Abbott and Google Health partner on AI-driven glucose monitoring for non-diabetics
Healthcare firm Abbott and Google Health have announced a collaboration to connect the Lingo continuous glucose monitor with the Google Health app, offering AI recommendations for non-diabetic users while initiating a major real-world study on metabolic health.
Healthcare company Abbott has entered into a multi-year partnership with Google Health to integrate its Lingo continuous glucose monitor (CGM) with the Google Health app. The collaboration allows users of the over-the-counter Lingo device, which is explicitly intended for non-diabetic adults not using insulin, to view metabolic data and receive AI-driven recommendations via the Google Health Coach.
The companies stated that the integration aims to help users make better lifestyle and nutrition choices in the moment by providing immediate access to their metabolic information. Data from the Lingo device can be shared with the Google Health Coach, which utilises artificial intelligence to offer personalised guidance based on an individual's specific metrics.
As part of the agreement, Abbott and Google Health will conduct one of the largest real-world metabolic health studies to date. The research will integrate continuous glucose, wearable, laboratory, and survey data to uncover connections between activity, sleep, wellbeing, and metabolic health. The goal is to inform more personalised guidance that supports healthier day-to-day decisions for participants.
This initiative follows a growing trend of non-diabetics using CGMs, a phenomenon Engadget first reported on in 2023. At that time, the outlet noted a lack of research supporting the benefits of this practice for the general population. Earlier this year, an article from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reiterated that the health benefits of CGMs for non-diabetics remain "pretty hazy".
Medical experts have cautioned that interpreting CGM results without professional training can be difficult and potentially counterproductive. Dr Idrees Mughal, known as Dr Idz, told Engadget that even for a trained doctor, assessing CGM results requires additional data points. He warned that laypeople may find the data "completely useless" without context and that an over-emphasis on keeping glucose readings low could lead to poor eating habits.
While the partnership may yield useful insights into non-diabetic use cases, it also presents commercial opportunities for both firms, potentially driving sales of Lingo devices and subscriptions to Google Health Premium. Industry observers note that users should consult primary care physicians before altering health habits based on such data.
