Abbott Launches Over-the-Counter Glucose Monitor Lingo: Can It Help You Manage Your Health & Wellness?
Abbott Laboratories, a leading healthcare company, announced the launch of its over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor Lingo in the U.S. Priced at $49 for a single sensor, Lingo is designed for adults who do not take insulin and want to better manage their glucose levels for improved overall health and wellness. This marks a significant move for Abbott, as it intends to target a broader market beyond traditional diabetes management, aiming to educate users about their bodies’ responses to food, exercise, sleep, and stress.
Key Takeaways:
- New Frontier for Blood Glucose Monitoring: Abbott’s Lingo is venturing beyond diabetes management, aiming to empower individuals to understand and improve their overall health and wellness by better understanding their glucose fluctuations.
- Affordability & Accessibility: Lingo’s $49 price point eliminates the need for prescriptions and insurance coverage, making it accessible for a wider audience, including those with prediabetes.
- Focus on Glucose Spikes: The Lingo app includes a unique feature called "Lingo Count" which quantifies the impact of glucose spikes, helping users understand their body’s responses to various factors and potentially adopt healthier habits.
- Abbott’s Competition: Dexcom, another major player in the glucose monitoring space, has also entered the prediabetes market with its over-the-counter device "Stelo," offering a monthly subscription model.
Beyond Diabetes Management: A Look at Lingo’s Potential
Lingo is not intended for diabetes management but rather aims to provide individuals with a deeper understanding of their glucose dynamics and how their bodies respond to everyday activities. While everyone’s glucose levels fluctuate throughout the day, persistently high levels can contribute to various health issues, including:
- Metabolic Disease
- Insulin Resistance
- Heart Disease
Abbott’s goal with Lingo is to empower users to become more informed about their bodies and proactively manage their health. The Lingo app acts as a tool for data analysis, providing real-time glucose readings updated every minute, visualized on a graph, and segmented into a "healthy range."
Utilizing the Lingo Count: Understanding Glucose Spikes
The Lingo app incorporates a unique feature called the "Lingo Count" to help users interpret the significance of glucose spikes – those rapid increases and subsequent decreases in blood sugar levels commonly observed after meals. A numerical value is assigned to each spike, providing a measure of its impact on the body. Users can monitor their daily "Lingo Count" target and strive to stay below it.
Navigating The Market: Abbott vs. Dexcom
While Lingo represents a significant shift for Abbott, it also faces competition from Dexcom, a strong player in the glucose monitoring market. Dexcom’s Stelo, also available over-the-counter, targets similar demographic groups by providing a monthly subscription service.
Both Abbott and Dexcom received FDA clearance for their respective over-the-counter continuous glucose monitoring systems. Abbott’s second system, Libre Rio, specifically tailored for individuals with Type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin, is anticipated to be released in the future.
The Future of Continuous Glucose Monitoring: A Window to Wellness
The introduction of Lingo and similar products represents an evolving landscape in glucose monitoring. These tools are no longer exclusive to diabetes management but are increasingly seen as valuable resources for promoting proactive health and wellness. By offering affordable and accessible solutions, companies like Abbott and Dexcom empower individuals to gain insights into their bodies and potentially adopt healthier habits, leading to improved health outcomes.
As these technologies continue to evolve and become more mainstream, individuals may gain greater control over their health, promoting a more proactive approach to overall well-being. The future of continuous glucose monitoring holds promise for individuals seeking to better understand their bodies and make informed decisions for their health.