Abbott recently issued a press release due to a recall issue it has identified with some of its Freestyle Libre 3 and Libre 3 Plus sensors. The affected sensors involved with this recall are at risk of incorrectly providing low glucose readings.
The safety concern involves treatment decisions that may be made and implemented based on the incorrect low blood sugar readings. If a patient or caregiver is under the belief that one’s blood sugar is lower than what it is in reality, incorrect interventions may be made (ex. reducing/delaying/skipping insulin doses or consuming extra or unneeded glucose/carbohydrate sources). Unwarranted interventions may ultimately lead to health risks of varying degrees of severity. At the time of Abbott’s communication, they noted that worldwide they had received reports of 736 “severe adverse events” and 7 deaths related to this recall; while none of the reported deaths took place in the United States, 57 of these “severe adverse events” were.
Patients or caregivers can check if they have an affected sensor by visiting www.FreeStyleCheck.com and selecting “CONFIRM SENSOR SERIAL NUMBER.” Serial numbers can be identified by looking in the patient’s Libre phone app or reader device; they are also printed on the bottom of the sensor applicator and on the outside packaging box. If a patient is currently wearing one of the affected sensors, they should immediately remove and discard the sensor; any unused sensors that are part of the recall should not be used. Patients can request replacements for any recalled sensors by contacting Abbott directly through the link above or via their website; they will need to enter the affected sensor(s) serial numbers and their contact information so that replacement sensors can be directly sent to them. Additionally, Abbott’s customer service is available to assist patients and caregivers by calling 1-833-815-4273 (open daily from 8am - 8pm Eastern Time).
If patients do not have an available, unaffected sensor to wear as they await replacements, they should use blood glucose meters for monitoring purposes. If they have a FreeStyle Libre 3 reader, they can use the built-in meter for testing purposes.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also posted an Early Alert regarding the issue.
If you are aware of a patient who has suffered a medical issue related to this recall, a report should be filed with the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
FDA approvals of Novel Drugs this year decreased again: 39 products were considered “New Molecular Entities” by the FDA. The table includes comments on the products that may have an impact on primary care. Please note that this list covers new molecular entities, not biologicals.
References and Best Resource for information on New Drug Approvals:
FDA: New Molecular Entity Product Approvals
Drugs.com:
Table 1: Actual New Drug Entities – includes orals, Injectables, Biologicals and Biosimilar product approvals
New – Novel drug applications to watch in 2026
Table 2: New Drug Entities in Oncology
Table 3: Generic Approvals – includes all generic approvals potentially relevant to Primary Care
New – Drugs with patent expirations in 2026
We all have experience with patients who just can’t seem to tolerate GLP1 agonists. Bad past experiences with significant nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, vomiting or profound appetite reduction can often rule out trials with other GLP1 agents for some who could truly benefit from them.
A pilot study appearing in the September 2025 issue of Diabetes Care shows promise for preventing poor GI tolerability and allowing more people to benefit from injectable semaglutide (Ozempic) therapy, using the “click method” to titrate with smaller dose increments more gradually.
Because Ozempic pens include markings for only the label-recommended doses (0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg and 2mg), the click method requires patients to count the “click” sounds made by the dose selector knob on the pen.
Investigators randomized 104 patients with type 2 diabetes to 16 weeks of either the label-recommended titration schedule for injectable semaglutide (0.25mg SC weekly x 4 weeks, then 0.5mg weekly x 4 weeks, then 1mg weekly x thereafter ) or a flexible titration schedule using the “click method’ starting at 5 clicks (0.0675mg) and increasing by 5 clicks every week until a maximum dose of 74 clicks (1mg/week) was achieved.
The researchers found that while final doses, A1c and BMI between groups were similar at the end of the study, only 2% of subjects in the flexible dosing arm withdrew for GI side effects, compared to 19% in the label-recommended dosing arm (p=0.005). Nausea rates for the flexible dosing arm were lower than the traditional dosing arm (45.1% vs. 64.2%, p=0.051), with fewer nausea days as well (2.88 days vs. 6.3 days, p=0.017).
Gradual, flexible, click-guided microtitrations may represent a promising method to assist more patients in tolerating GLP1 receptor agonists and adhering to therapy long-term. If GI adverse reactions occur, patients may reduce the dose by 5 clicks for 1-2 weeks before attempting another increase.
Unlike those using the traditional, label-recommended dosing schedule, patients using the click method will require a prescription for separate pen needles, as they will need more than the 4-6 pen needles included in Ozempic packaging.
Click-guided dosing is not possible with dulaglutide (Trulicity) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro), as these products are packaged in pre-measured, single-use auto injector pens.
Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner in Primary Care
Mike Grunske, PharmD, BCPS
Mike Grunske is a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS). Mike transitioned his practice to the Clement Zablocki VA Medical Center where he has since practiced in the Primary Care Clinics as a Clinical Pharmacist Practioner. Within this role, his practice involves direct care and management of patients’ medication regimens. He has worked as an active preceptor for both pharmacy students and residents throughout his entire career. Mike is also Past-President and former Foundation Chair of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin (PSW).
Mike is married to a fellow PharmAid contributor (Vanessa Grunske). Together they have a teenage daughter and son. He enjoys traveling with his family, attending his kid’s cheer, baseball, and basketball events, and spending any available leftover time running and hunting.
Pharmacist at Advocate Aurora Health
Vanessa Grunske, PharmD, BCACP
Vanessa practices with Advocate Aurora Health in Milwaukee, where she sees patients at Aurora Sinai Medication Management Clinic and maintains a dispensing practice at St. Luke’s Medical Center. Board-certified in ambulatory care pharmacotherapy, her practice interests include diabetes, hypertension, smoking cessation, geriatrics, improving health literacy, and medication adherence. She particularly enjoys and spends a good share of her work hours teaching and mentoring pharmacy students, family medicine residents and pharmacy residents.
She and her husband, Mike, live in the Milwaukee area with their two teenage children. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, visiting our national parks with her family or relaxing on a beautiful Caribbean beach.
Professor at Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy
Beth Buckley, PharmD, CDCES
Beth Buckley, PharmD, CDCES (Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist), is a Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, where she has a teaching role within all years of the curriculum with a focus on Applied Patient Care Skills Lab, Diabetes Pharmacotherapy, and electives in the areas of diabetes and wellness. Her current role is ambulatory care pharmacist where she works with a Collaborative Practice Agreement to provide chronic disease state management within a primary care clinic.
When not working, she enjoys reading, gardening, traveling with her husband, volunteering within the community, and active fun: hiking, biking, dog walking, practicing yoga, mindfulness, and living with intention and gratitude.
Disclaimer: The Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians (WAFP) has entered into a business relationship with Pharm Aid to offer our members discounts and exclusive savings. This or other affinity program relationships presented by the WAFP in no way implies a WAFP endorsement of the program, supplier, or vendor.
