Reported Reactions

Devices › System, test, blood glucose, over the counter

Device brand name · Blood glucose monitoring system

Freedom Lite Meter FreeStyle: medical device reports filed with FDA

4,274 reports name it, 2020–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Abbott Diabetes Care. Product code NBW.

4,274
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 675 a year
29
reports, 12 months to August 2026
489 in the 12 months before
100%
classified as malfunction
90.4% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

4,274 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "Freedom Lite Meter FreeStyle" (blood glucose monitoring system); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Abbott Diabetes Care; received from March 2020 to August 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

29 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 94% from 489 in the 12 months before. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases. The event types recorded are malfunction (100%); across all system, test, blood glucose, over the counter reports (product code NBW) death is recorded in 0% and malfunction in 90.4%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are failure to power up (99.1%), incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings (0.9%) and power problem (0%). The patient problems coded most often are loss of consciousness, convulsion/seizure and diaphoresis. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Reports by month, five years

059118Sep 2021: 74Oct 2021: 102Nov 2021: 99Dec 2021: 1062022Jan 2022: 118Feb 2022: 78Mar 2022: 110Apr 2022: 94May 2022: 76Jun 2022: 71Jul 2022: 78Aug 2022: 69Sep 2022: 76Oct 2022: 83Nov 2022: 104Dec 2022: 892023Jan 2023: 88Feb 2023: 82Mar 2023: 84Apr 2023: 58May 2023: 86Jun 2023: 60Jul 2023: 49Aug 2023: 65Sep 2023: 60Oct 2023: 68Nov 2023: 65Dec 2023: 812024Jan 2024: 83Feb 2024: 56Mar 2024: 46Apr 2024: 72May 2024: 72Jun 2024: 54Jul 2024: 51Aug 2024: 46Sep 2024: 62Oct 2024: 53Nov 2024: 57Dec 2024: 632025Jan 2025: 57Feb 2025: 71Mar 2025: 57Apr 2025: 12May 2025: 23Jun 2025: 23Jul 2025: 11Aug 2025: 0Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 0Nov 2025: 3Dec 2025: 32026Jan 2026: 7Feb 2026: 2Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 3May 2026: 1Jun 2026: 1Jul 2026: 4Aug 2026: 5

Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases MAUDE data monthly; reports can arrive months after an event, so the newest months grow in later releases.

By year received

05421,0842020: 30020202021: 1,08420212022: 1,04620222023: 84620232024: 71520242025: 26020252026: 232026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury0%2
Malfunction100%4,272
Other0%0
Not given0%0

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report100%4,274
Voluntary report0%0
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 431,760 reports carrying product code NBW. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Failure to power up4,23799.1%19.5%
Incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings370.9%5.6%
Power problem10%0.1%
Premature discharge of battery10%0.1%
Unable to obtain readings10%0.6%

FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report; one report can carry several. Generic codes such as "no apparent adverse event" are left out.

Patient problems coded

Patient problem (FDA code)ReportsShare
Loss of consciousnesspassing out20%
Convulsion/seizure10%
Diaphoresis10%
Dizzinesslight-headedness or unsteadiness10%
Hypoglycemialow blood sugar10%
Numbnessnumbness10%

Patient problem codes are present mainly in reports filed since 2019 and are often blank.

In context

MeasureFreedom Lite Meter FreeStyleProduct code NBWAll MAUDE reports
Reports4,274431,76026,136,888
Share of that pool—1%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports009
Classified as injury0%8.8%36.2%
Classified as malfunction100%90.4%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer100%99.3%94.9%

Shares are of reports, not of devices in use. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data."

Other brands with product code NBW

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Ot Verio Iq Meter93,04100%
Ot Verio2 Meter45,29400%
Ot Ping Meter38,81700%
Ot Ultralink Meter26,21700%
Ot Verio Flex Meter13,50300%
Precision Xtra11,69660.1%
FreeStyle Lite12,2444300%
FreeStyle Freedom Lite11,0286940%
Neo Meter Optium FreeStyle10,6911320%
FreeStyle Precision Neo10,407350%
Ot Verio Pro Meter6,71600%
Ot Verio Test Strips6,35100%
One Touch Ultralink Meter5,99400%
Ot Ultra2 Meter5,14200%
Ot Ping Enhanced Meter5,08000%

Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA also states that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product."

Questions about Freedom Lite Meter FreeStyle reports

How many FDA reports name Freedom Lite Meter FreeStyle?

4,274 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 29 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (100%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

failure to power up (99.1%), incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings (0.9%), power problem (0%), premature discharge of battery (0%) and unable to obtain readings (0%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (100%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that Freedom Lite Meter FreeStyle was at fault?

No. FDA states that "MDR data alone cannot be used to establish rates of events, evaluate a change in event rates over time or compare event rates between devices. The number of reports cannot be interpreted or used in isolation to reach conclusions about the existence, severity, or frequency of problems associated with devices." It adds that the reporting system "has limitations, including the potential submission of incomplete, inaccurate, untimely, unverified, or biased data." FDA adds that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report."

How do I report a problem with a medical device?

Through FDA MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 for health professionals and consumers), or to the manufacturer. See the guide on how to report.

Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Device Adverse Event (MAUDE) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 31 Aug 2026. Brand, generic and manufacturer names are as written on the reports; product code names come from FDA's device classification. A report counts here when any device it lists carries this brand name after punctuation and capitalisation are normalised. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.

Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.