This content originally appeared on diaTribe. Republished with permission.
By April Hopcroft
Lingo is an over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor for people without diabetes who want to improve their metabolic health.
Meanwhile, 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, Lingo, is intended for people who want to better understand and improve their metabolic health. Meanwhile, Libre Rio is a CGM for adults with type 2 diabetes who manage their diabetes through diet and physical activity, rather than with insulin.
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.
No information has been shared yet by Abbott regarding the launch timing or pricing for Lingo and Libre Rio in the U.S.
What is Lingo and how does it work?
Lingo is an over-the-counter CGM for people without diabetes who want to improve their health and wellbeing. 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. Lingo provides personalized insights and coaching recommendations to help you develop healthy habits and improve metabolic health.
Lingo can help you understand how things like different eating patterns, physical activity, sleep, and stress affect blood sugar in real time. For example, Lingo can help explain when and why you experience spikes in blood sugar. When you start to spike, Lingo offers tips to help lower your blood sugar, such as going for a short walk.
Lingo has already launched in the U.K. as a tool to help people who don’t have diabetes understand and improve their glucose levels. You can sign up to be notified when it is available in the US.
What is Libre Rio and how does it work?
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.
Libre Rio is the same shape and size as the FreeStyle Libre 2 and can measure blood glucose levels between 40 to 400 mg/dL. Like the Libre 2, Liber Rio lasts for two weeks and connects to an app that provides insights into your blood sugar patterns.
Learn more about getting started with CGM:
Daily Life With a Continuous Glucose Monitor
6 Things to Know About Wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitor
8 Apps to Improve Your Time in Range