Reported Reactions

Devices › Sensor, glucose, invasive, non-adjunctive, factory-calibrated, user-initiated

Device brand name · Flash glucose monitoring system

FreeStyle Libre Sensor: medical device reports filed with FDA

801 reports name it, 2018–2026. Manufacturer given most often on reports: Abbott Diabetes Care. Product code PZE.

801
device reports naming the brand
0% of all MAUDE reports · about 98 a year
11
reports, 12 months to August 2026
19 in the 12 months before
95.6%
classified as malfunction
86.9% across the product code
0%
classified as death, as reported
0 reports · not verified by FDA

801 medical device reports received by FDA name the brand "FreeStyle Libre Sensor" (flash glucose monitoring system); the manufacturer given most often on reports is Abbott Diabetes Care; received from May 2018 to August 2026. Brand names are as the reporter or manufacturer wrote them, so one product can appear under several spellings.

11 reports arrived in the 12 months to August 2026, down 42% from 19 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 (95.6%), injury (4%) and other (0.1%); across all sensor, glucose, invasive, non-adjunctive, factory-calibrated, user-initiated reports (product code PZE) death is recorded in 0% and malfunction in 86.9%. Event type is the reporter's classification of the report, not a verified outcome.

The device problems coded most often are incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings (92.8%), unable to obtain readings (0.7%) and device displays incorrect message (0.5%). The patient problems coded most often are hyperglycemia, loss of consciousness and burn(s). 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

0510Sep 2021: 5Oct 2021: 5Nov 2021: 2Dec 2021: 02022Jan 2022: 3Feb 2022: 1Mar 2022: 0Apr 2022: 0May 2022: 0Jun 2022: 1Jul 2022: 1Aug 2022: 3Sep 2022: 2Oct 2022: 1Nov 2022: 1Dec 2022: 02023Jan 2023: 1Feb 2023: 3Mar 2023: 8Apr 2023: 4May 2023: 9Jun 2023: 4Jul 2023: 8Aug 2023: 7Sep 2023: 10Oct 2023: 5Nov 2023: 3Dec 2023: 62024Jan 2024: 5Feb 2024: 2Mar 2024: 1Apr 2024: 3May 2024: 7Jun 2024: 10Jul 2024: 3Aug 2024: 1Sep 2024: 3Oct 2024: 3Nov 2024: 6Dec 2024: 52025Jan 2025: 0Feb 2025: 2Mar 2025: 0Apr 2025: 0May 2025: 0Jun 2025: 0Jul 2025: 0Aug 2025: 0Sep 2025: 0Oct 2025: 0Nov 2025: 0Dec 2025: 32026Jan 2026: 0Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 0May 2026: 1Jun 2026: 1Jul 2026: 4Aug 2026: 2

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

03166312018: 520182019: 1020192020: 1220202021: 63120212022: 1320222023: 6820232024: 4920242025: 520252026: 82026

Event type and report source

Event type, as classified on the report

Death0%0
Injury4%32
Malfunction95.6%766
Other0.1%1
Not given0.2%2

Who filed the report

Manufacturer report95.3%763
Voluntary report4.7%38
User facility report0%0
Distributor report0%0
Not given0%0

Grey bar: all 133,421 reports carrying product code PZE. Event type is the filer's classification and is not verified by FDA.

Device problems coded

Device problem (FDA code)ReportsShareShare across product code
Incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings74392.8%80.2%
Unable to obtain readings60.7%2.9%
Device displays incorrect message40.5%3.1%
High readingsreadings were too high30.4%2.4%
Product quality problem30.4%0.8%
Activation failure10.1%0%
Defective component10.1%0%
Device markings/labelling problema problem with the device markings or label10.1%0%
Failure to power up10.1%0.2%
Low readingsreadings were too low10.1%2.1%
Manufacturing, packaging or shipping problem10.1%0%
Output problem10.1%0%

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
Hyperglycemiahigh blood sugar70.9%
Loss of consciousnesspassing out50.6%
Burn(s)a burn30.4%
Hypoglycemialow blood sugar30.4%
Discomfortdiscomfort20.2%
Erythemaskin redness20.2%
Painpain, site not specified20.2%
Skin inflammation/ irritation20.2%
Convulsion/seizure10.1%
Dizzinesslight-headedness or unsteadiness10.1%
Failure of implant10.1%
Hemorrhage/blood loss/bleeding10.1%
Impaired healingslow healing10.1%
Itching sensation10.1%
Lethargysluggishness10.1%

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

In context

MeasureFreeStyle Libre SensorProduct code PZEAll MAUDE reports
Reports801133,42126,136,888
Share of that pool—0.6%0%
Classified as death, per 1,000 reports009
Classified as injury4%13.1%36.2%
Classified as malfunction95.6%86.9%62.3%
Filed by the manufacturer95.3%99.8%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 PZE

BrandReportsLatest 12 monthsClassified as death
Libre Sensor Freestyle77,781120%
Freestyle Libre 14 Day25,86510,9760%
FreeStyle Libre Sensor 14 Day13,2961170%
FreeStyle LibreLink8,1456,5120%
FreeStyle Libre6,0451,5600%
Libre 2 Sensor FreeStyle76,42030%
FreeStyle Libre App1561560%
FreeStyle Libre 2113,65867,2970%
Fs Opt-No Coding17000%
FreeStyle Libre 2 Plus49,66845,8390%
FreeStyle Libre 2 Sensor228523.1%
Libre 3 Sensor FreeStyle12,82920%
FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus91,34888,3230%
Freestyle9,490260.1%
Freestyle Freedom3,43060%

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 FreeStyle Libre Sensor reports

How many FDA reports name FreeStyle Libre Sensor?

801 medical device reports in the openFDA MAUDE release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through August 2026; 11 in the latest 12 months.

What kinds of events are reported?

malfunction (95.6%), injury (4%) and other (0.1%). "Event type" is how the report was classified when filed: death, injury, malfunction or other.

What device problems are coded?

incorrect, inadequate or imprecise result or readings (92.8%), unable to obtain readings (0.7%), device displays incorrect message (0.5%), high readings (0.4%) and product quality problem (0.4%). These are FDA's device problem codes as entered on the report.

Who files these reports?

manufacturer reports (95.3%) and voluntary reports (4.7%). Manufacturers and user facilities are required to report; voluntary reports come from health professionals and the public.

Do these reports show that FreeStyle Libre Sensor 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.