FDA Warns Of Health Risks From Diabetes App Notifications

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration building is seen behind FDA logos at a bus stop on the agency's campus in Silver Spring, Md., on Aug. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Health officials in the United States have issued a warning regarding the potential health risks faced by patients who use smartphone apps to manage their diabetes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received reports of users missing critical medical alerts from their phones, leading to instances of dangerously low blood sugar levels and, in some cases, fatalities.

The FDA's caution pertains to a growing market of wearable devices that monitor patients' sugar levels or administer insulin automatically. Many of these devices are controlled through smartphone apps. However, the FDA highlights that certain phone settings, such as notification pauses or changes in audio sources, could result in patients missing vital updates.