Abbott has released its Lingo continuous glucose monitor (CGM) in the U.S. Lingo is the company’s first CGM available without a prescription.
 
Lingo, which received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance in June, is comprised of a biosensor and mobile app and is based on the company’s FreeStyle Libre CGM technology. The consumer biowearable is available for adults who are not on insulin. It tracks glucose in real-time and provides personal insights and coaching, as well.
 
The Lingo biosensor is worn on the back of the arm for up to two weeks and continuously streams glucose data to the Lingo app on a smartphone. A graph of glucose reactions updates in real-time based on continuous readings from the biosensor. The body’s glucose spikes are translated into one, easy-to-understand metric, Abbott said.
 
Meals and exercise can be logged in the app. Lingo can also be synced with the Apple Health app to automatically log workouts. Tailored recommendations are based on foods logged, time of day, and accrued Lingo Count (glucose spike function).
 
“Lingo Challenges” also help create new habits by earning badges and completing challenges.
 
“There is a great deal of interest in tracking biomarkers that provide insights into one’s health and wellness that were previously undetectable using the trackers available to consumers,” said Olivier Ropars, divisional VP of Abbott’s Lingo business. “Glucose is a powerful signal of your body’s unique response to food and lifestyle. Abbott’s Lingo tracks your glucose 24/7, translating the data into insights and bridging the gap between traditional healthcare and preventative measures. Lingo empowers individuals to build new healthy habits and take control of their health and wellness.”