TRUE METRIX Class I recall: Don’t stop testing before you have a backup
If you use a TRUE METRIX glucose meter, the FDA says not to stop checking your blood sugar before you have another testing method available. Here is what the E-5 error means, who should try to switch first, and when symptoms need urgent care.
If your glucose meter is a TRUE METRIX model, the FDA‘s answer is not to stop testing outright. The agency says users should move to another way to check blood sugar as soon as possible when they can, but should keep testing until an alternative method is available.
On April 28, 2026, the FDA said Trividia Health’s correction for TRUE METRIX systems had been classified as a Class I recall, the agency’s most serious recall category. The FDA updated its safety communication on May 19, 2026, and said its recommendations had not changed.
What products are affected?
The recall covers the TRUE METRIX Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose System, TRUE METRIX AIR, TRUE METRIX GO, and TRUE METRIX PRO. The FDA also says co-branded versions sold under store or distribution partner names are included.
So even if your packaging looks store-branded, the meter may still be part of the affected TRUE METRIX family. If you are unsure, check the meter name itself, your paperwork, or ask your pharmacist, clinic, or supplier to help verify it.
Why the E-5 code is a problem
According to the FDA, the same E-5 error code can mean two very different things: a very high blood glucose event above 600 mg/dL, or a test-strip error. That overlap matters because a person may dismiss a dangerous high-glucose emergency as a strip problem, or may assume the error means severe high blood sugar when their glucose is actually low or normal.
The FDA says delayed treatment or the wrong treatment can lead to serious harm, including dehydration, altered mental status, loss of consciousness, or death. As of January 16, 2026, the agency said Trividia had reported 114 serious injuries and one death associated with the issue.
Who should try to switch first?
The FDA says it is especially important for some users to transition to another glucose-testing method as soon as possible. Priority groups include:
- People on intensive insulin therapy
- People taking sulfonylureas
- People who have frequent high- or low-blood-sugar episodes
If you are in one of those groups, contact your clinician or pharmacist promptly to discuss other meter or monitoring options.
If you use one of these meters, do this
- Do not stop monitoring before you have another testing method. The FDA says users should keep testing until an alternative is available.
- Ask about switching methods. Your clinician or pharmacist may be able to help you move to another glucose-testing system.
- Treat an E-5 message as potentially serious. It may mean very high glucose, or it may mean a test-strip error.
- Match the message to how you feel. If an E-5 error appears while you have symptoms of low or high blood sugar, contact your health care provider right away for help deciding what to do next.
- Seek urgent or emergency care for severe symptoms. Do not wait at home with confusion, fainting, seizures, repeated vomiting, rapid or heavy breathing, or other severe signs of a blood-sugar emergency.
- Report problems. The FDA asks patients and clinicians to report complications to MedWatch and to Trividia Health.
Quick symptom guide
Possible low blood sugar: fast heartbeat, shaking, sweating, nervousness, irritability or confusion, dizziness, and hunger. More severe low blood sugar can cause trouble walking, trouble seeing clearly, seizures, or passing out.
Possible dangerous high blood sugar or DKA: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, rapid or heavy breathing, confusion or trouble concentrating, extreme fatigue, fruity-smelling breath, thirst, or a very dry mouth. The American Diabetes Association describes DKA as a medical emergency that needs immediate care.
What is known, and what is not
What is known is that the FDA has classified this as a Class I recall and is telling users to move to another testing method when possible. What is also clear is that the risk centers on how the E-5 code can be interpreted, not on a blanket instruction for everyone to stop checking blood sugar immediately.
What remains less clear for everyday users is how quickly corrected meters will fully replace devices already in homes, clinics, and pharmacies. For now, the FDA says patients should keep testing until they have a backup method, not stop monitoring altogether.
Practical next steps
If you use a TRUE METRIX meter, make a short plan now. Check the meter name carefully in case you use a store-brand version, ask your pharmacy or clinic to help verify the device if needed, and talk with a clinician or pharmacist about a safer backup testing option.
If family members, school staff, or other caregivers help with diabetes care, let them know that an E-5 message on this meter may not mean just one thing. Do not make insulin or other diabetes medication changes on your own based only on an E-5 error. Use the recall as a prompt to set up a safer backup testing plan with professional help.
Sources
Editorial note: Weence articles are researched from cited public-health, medical, regulatory, journal, and reputable news sources and may be drafted with AI assistance. They are checked for source support, clarity, and safety guardrails before publication.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Research findings can be early or incomplete, and health guidance can change. Always talk with a qualified healthcare professional about personal symptoms, diagnosis, medications, vaccines, screenings, or treatment decisions. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call emergency services right away.
