Insulin Overdose Lawsuit Filed Over Blood Glucose Meter, Test Strips

Johnson & Johnson and two other medical device manufacturers face a wrongful death lawsuit that alleges problems with a OneTouch Ultra Blood Glucose meter and test strips caused a man to overdose on insulin. 

The insulin overdose lawsuit was filed in late December by the family of Leslie Cousin, in 24th Judicial District Court in Louisiana. According to a recent story by the Louisiana Record, the complaint indicates that Cousin died a year after going into a coma in December 2010, due to an insulin overdose from a OneTouch Ultra Blood Glucose meter.

According to allegations raised in the lawsuit, the overdose was caused by the defective glucose meter and test strips, which the family claims provided inaccurate readings. The meter incorrectly reported that Cousin’s blood sugar level was very high, leading him to take too much insulin.

The test strips, sold by Diabetes Management and Supplies and Manufactured by Lifescan Inc. were recalled due to problems with inaccurate readings, according to the lawsuit. The two companies are listed as defendants along with Johnson & Johnson.

The lawsuit accuses the defendants of designing and manufacturing a defective product and failure to warn. The family seeks damages for medical expenses, loss of income and earningcapacity, physical injury, pain and suffering, disability, emotional pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, wrongful death and the cost of related expenses.

A OneTouch SureStep Tes Strips recall was issued in March 2010, affecting about 14,000 packages. The strips were recalled because they could provide incorrect blood glucose level readings. The FDA warned that the strips could give falsely low glucose results. It is unclear whether these were the strips used by Cousin.

Symptoms of high blood glucose levels can include thirst, frequent urination, headaches, problems concentrating, weakness and fatigue.