TRUE METRIX Recall: What GLP-1 Patients Need to Know About Their Glucose Monitor

# TRUE METRIX Recall: What GLP-1 Patients Need to Know About Their Glucose Monitor

On April 28, 2026, the FDA classified the TRUE METRIX recall as Class I — the most serious type. Trividia Health, the manufacturer, had already issued a labeling correction on February 6, 2026, and updated its guidance on May 1. By the time the FDA elevated the classification, 114 serious injuries and one death had been linked to the issue.

The problem is not the meter's hardware. It is the E-5 error code.

What the E-5 Error Code Actually Means

TRUE METRIX meters display E-5 for two completely different situations:

1. Your blood glucose is extremely high — above 600 mg/dL.

2. There is a test strip or device error.

The original owner's manual did not make this distinction clear enough. A patient seeing E-5 might assume a bad strip, repeat the test, and wait. If the underlying cause was severe hyperglycemia, that delay could be dangerous.

As of January 16, 2026, the FDA had documented 114 serious injuries and one death associated with this ambiguity. The injuries included dehydration, altered mental status, and loss of consciousness — outcomes that escalate quickly when high glucose goes untreated.

Which Devices Are Affected

The recall covers all TRUE METRIX branded blood glucose monitoring systems distributed in the United States, including:

• TRUE METRIX (base models)
• TRUE METRIX AIR (wireless/Bluetooth models)
• TRUE METRIX GO (portable models)
• TRUE METRIX PRO (professional/clinical models)

• TRUE METRIX AIR (wireless/Bluetooth models)
• TRUE METRIX GO (portable models)
• TRUE METRIX PRO (professional/clinical models)

• TRUE METRIX GO (portable models)
• TRUE METRIX PRO (professional/clinical models)

• TRUE METRIX PRO (professional/clinical models)

It also includes co-branded products sold under store or distribution partner names. Major retailers affected include Walgreens, CVS, Kroger, Rite Aid, Walmart (ReliOn), Albertsons (Signature Care), and McKesson brands. If your meter was purchased through a pharmacy or mail-order program, check the Trividia Health product notice page and enter your serial number to confirm.

Test strips and control solution are not affected by this recall.

Why This Matters Specifically for GLP-1 Patients

GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide lower blood glucose by stimulating insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon, and slowing gastric emptying. Most patients on these therapies experience improved glycemic control. But the mechanism is dose-dependent, and individual response varies.

Here is where monitoring becomes part of the system:

• Hypoglycemia risk exists when GLP-1 therapy is combined with sulfonylureas or insulin. A monitor that misreads low glucose as a strip error could delay carbohydrate intake.
• Gastroparesis from GLP-1 therapy can cause erratic nutrient absorption, leading to unpredictable glucose swings that patients track at home.
• Dose titration relies on patient-reported glucose patterns. If those patterns are wrong, the titration is wrong.

• Gastroparesis from GLP-1 therapy can cause erratic nutrient absorption, leading to unpredictable glucose swings that patients track at home.
• Dose titration relies on patient-reported glucose patterns. If those patterns are wrong, the titration is wrong.

• Dose titration relies on patient-reported glucose patterns. If those patterns are wrong, the titration is wrong.

A faulty monitor does not just give a bad number. It corrupts the feedback loop that patients and clinicians use to calibrate therapy. For GLP-1 patients who self-monitor — especially those also on insulin or sulfonylureas — that corruption has clinical consequences.

For background on how semaglutide and tirzepatide differ in mechanism and evidence base, see our central GLP-1 comparison guide.

Three Immediate Steps

Step 1: Check Your Device

Locate your meter. Look at the brand name on the front and the serial number on the back. If it says TRUE METRIX, TRUE METRIX AIR, TRUE METRIX GO, or TRUE METRIX PRO — or if it is a store-brand meter that uses TRUE METRIX test strips — your device is affected.

Go to trividiahealth.com/E-5productnotice and enter your serial number to confirm. You can also call Trividia Health customer support at 1-888-943-2387 (Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM EST, excluding holidays).

Step 2: Verify Your Readings

If you are continuing to use your TRUE METRIX meter while arranging an alternative, do not rely on a single reading — especially if it seems inconsistent with how you feel.

• Cross-check unexpected highs or lows with a second meter if you have access to one.
• Do not change your insulin, GLP-1 dose, or other diabetes medications based solely on an E-5 error message.
• If you receive an E-5 code and are experiencing symptoms of high glucose — excessive thirst, frequent urination, nausea, abdominal pain, confusion, or fruity breath — seek medical care immediately. This is the specific scenario Trividia Health emphasized in its updated guidance.

• Do not change your insulin, GLP-1 dose, or other diabetes medications based solely on an E-5 error message.
• If you receive an E-5 code and are experiencing symptoms of high glucose — excessive thirst, frequent urination, nausea, abdominal pain, confusion, or fruity breath — seek medical care immediately. This is the specific scenario Trividia Health emphasized in its updated guidance.

• If you receive an E-5 code and are experiencing symptoms of high glucose — excessive thirst, frequent urination, nausea, abdominal pain, confusion, or fruity breath — seek medical care immediately. This is the specific scenario Trividia Health emphasized in its updated guidance.

Step 3: Consider Alternative Monitoring

Trividia Health now recommends that users transition to an alternative testing method when possible. The highest priority for transition goes to patients on intensive insulin therapy, sulfonylureas, or anyone with frequent hypo- or hyperglycemic events.

Trividia is offering a free TRUENESS Blood Glucose Monitoring System (meter plus test strips) to affected users. You can request one through the same product notice page or by calling customer support.

For patients who want to move beyond finger-stick monitoring entirely, two broader categories exist:

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)

CGMs like FreeStyle Libre, Dexcom G7, and Medtronic Guardian use a small sensor worn on the body to measure interstitial glucose every few minutes. They provide trend arrows, time-in-range data, and alerts for highs and lows without finger sticks. CGMs are increasingly accessible for Type 2 diabetes patients and are sometimes prescribed off-label for prediabetes or metabolic monitoring in GLP-1 therapy.

• Advantages: Real-time trends, fewer finger sticks, better visibility into post-meal spikes and overnight lows.
• Limitations: Interstitial glucose lags behind blood glucose by 10–15 minutes; sensors require replacement every 10–14 days; not all insurance plans cover CGM for Type 2 or prediabetes.

• Limitations: Interstitial glucose lags behind blood glucose by 10–15 minutes; sensors require replacement every 10–14 days; not all insurance plans cover CGM for Type 2 or prediabetes.

Other FDA-Cleared Blood Glucose Meters

If you prefer traditional blood glucose monitoring, any FDA-cleared meter from a different manufacturer is a reasonable interim option. The key is confirming that the meter is not part of this recall and that you understand its error codes.

When to Contact Your Provider

Contact your healthcare provider if any of the following apply:

• You are on a TRUE METRIX meter and are unsure whether your risk profile warrants immediate transition.
• You are experiencing symptoms inconsistent with your meter readings.
• You are on intensive insulin therapy, sulfonylureas, or have a history of frequent glucose excursions.
• You want to discuss switching to a CGM or alternative BGM and need a prescription or prior authorization.
• You received an E-5 error and feel unwell, even if the reading seems "normal" on retest.

• You are experiencing symptoms inconsistent with your meter readings.
• You are on intensive insulin therapy, sulfonylureas, or have a history of frequent glucose excursions.
• You want to discuss switching to a CGM or alternative BGM and need a prescription or prior authorization.
• You received an E-5 error and feel unwell, even if the reading seems "normal" on retest.

• You are on intensive insulin therapy, sulfonylureas, or have a history of frequent glucose excursions.
• You want to discuss switching to a CGM or alternative BGM and need a prescription or prior authorization.
• You received an E-5 error and feel unwell, even if the reading seems "normal" on retest.

• You want to discuss switching to a CGM or alternative BGM and need a prescription or prior authorization.
• You received an E-5 error and feel unwell, even if the reading seems "normal" on retest.

• You received an E-5 error and feel unwell, even if the reading seems "normal" on retest.

In an emergency — severe confusion, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or loss of consciousness — call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not wait for a meter reading to confirm what your body is already telling you.

What Happens Next

Trividia Health is developing updated software for TRUE METRIX meters in coordination with the FDA. Updated meters are anticipated "in the near future," after which the company will initiate a comprehensive upgrade program to replace field devices. Users will be notified directly when the upgrade program opens.

Until then, the FDA's position is clear: transition to an alternative testing method when possible, continue using TRUE METRIX if no alternative is immediately available, and follow the updated E-5 instructions.

A Note on Compounded GLP-1s and Device Safety

Many patients using compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide through cash-pay clinics do not have the same pharmacy and device support infrastructure as patients using brand-name medications through traditional healthcare systems. That makes self-monitoring even more important — and device accuracy even more critical.

If you are on compounded GLP-1 therapy and self-monitoring glucose, this recall is a reminder to audit your entire monitoring setup: the meter, the strips, the logging method, and the clinical relationship that interprets the data. The medication and the monitor are a system. One weak link affects the other.

For guidance on preserving muscle and metabolic health while on GLP-1 therapy, see our protein and muscle preservation guide.

Reporting Problems

If you experience an adverse event related to your TRUE METRIX device, report it to the FDA through MedWatch:

• Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
• Phone: 1-800-332-1088 (to request a form)
• Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178

• Phone: 1-800-332-1088 (to request a form)
• Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178

• Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178

You can also contact Trividia Health directly at 1-888-943-2387.

Sources

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Risks of Using TRUE METRIX Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems by Trividia Health: FDA Safety Communication." April 28, 2026. Link
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Trividia Health Correction for TRUE METRIX Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems." May 5, 2026. Link
• Trividia Health. "E-5 Product Notice." Updated May 5, 2026. Link
• Trividia Health. Press Release, May 1, 2026.

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Trividia Health Correction for TRUE METRIX Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems." May 5, 2026. Link
• Trividia Health. "E-5 Product Notice." Updated May 5, 2026. Link
• Trividia Health. Press Release, May 1, 2026.

• Trividia Health. "E-5 Product Notice." Updated May 5, 2026. Link
• Trividia Health. Press Release, May 1, 2026.

• Trividia Health. Press Release, May 1, 2026.