FDA Clears Two New Abbott Over-the-Counter CGMs
- The Lingo is an over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor for people without diabetes who want to improve their metabolic health.
- The Libre Rio is a CGM for adults with type 2 who do not use insulin to manage their diabetes.
- Both sensors are based on Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre technology and have the same shape and size as the Freestyle Libre 2 and Libre 3 sensors.
The FDA recently cleared two new over-the-counter continuous glucose monitors (CGM) made by Abbott. The first is the Lingo, which is intended for people who want to better understand and improve their metabolic health. The Lingo is now available for purchase in the U.S.
Meanwhile, the Libre Rio is a CGM for adults with type 2 diabetes who manage their diabetes through diet and physical activity, rather than with insulin. The Libre Rio is not yet available but is expected to be by the end of 2024.
These two CGMs are the next over-the-counter options (meaning you can get it at a drugstore without a prescription from a healthcare provider) available in the U.S., following the FDA clearance of Stelo by Dexcom earlier this year.
What is the Lingo and how does it work?
The Lingo is an over-the-counter CGM for people without diabetes who want to improve their health and well-being. This CGM should not be used to manage or diagnose any conditions, including diabetes.
The Lingo sensor, worn on the upper arm for two weeks, continuously sends glucose data to a coaching app on a smartphone. The Lingo provides personalized insights and coaching recommendations to help you develop healthy habits and improve metabolic health.
The Lingo can help you understand how things like different eating patterns, physical activity, sleep, and stress affect blood sugar in real-time. For example, the Lingo can help explain when and why you experience spikes in blood sugar. When you start to spike, the Lingo offers tips to help lower your blood sugar, such as going for a short walk.
The Lingo is now available in the U.K. and the U.S. and is $89 for a 4-week plan.
What is the Libre Rio and how does it work?
The Libre Rio is an over-the-counter CGM for adults with type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin. In other words, this CGM is for people who manage their diabetes through diet and physical activity.
The Libre Rio is the same shape and size as the FreeStyle Libre 2 and can measure blood glucose levels between 40-400 mg/dL. Like the Libre 2, the Libre Rio lasts for two weeks and connects to an app that provides insights into your blood sugar patterns.
The Libre Rio is expected to launch in the U.S. sometime in 2024. No details are available yet on cost.
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