Abbott’s OTC glucose monitor is now available in the US

Abbott, a health tech company, has released the Lingo continuous glucose monitor, an over-the-counter device designed for non-diabetics who want to monitor their glucose levels. The biosensor sticks to the back of the arm and can stay there for up to 14 days, continuously streaming glucose data to the affiliated smartphone app. The app provides access to various health metrics, including glucose graphs, glucose spikes data, food and activity logging, and syncs with Apple Health to track workouts. It also offers tailored recommendations and challenges to encourage healthy habits. Each Lingo biosensor costs $49 and is not reusable, with combo packs available. Abbott's Lingo device is not the first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor on the market, as Dexcom received FDA approval for a similar sensor earlier this year. However, there is little evidence to suggest that this type of glucose monitor is actually useful or that there is a meaningful way to "optimize" blood sugar.