This OTC glucose monitor encouraged me to change my eating habits – here's how

Insulin resistance affects 40% of US adults ages 18 to 44, and individuals over 45 also have a high chance of developing it. With this condition, the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar (glucose). Although some uncontrollable factors can lead to insulin resistance, sometimes, a healthier diet and understanding how to manage your glucose levels can curb the effects of insulin resistance.

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Enter the Abbott Lingo, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) meant for adults 18 and older who don’t take insulin. It aims to help you track your glucose levels to achieve personal goals like losing weight, boosting daily energy, or improving mood or sleep. Glucose can greatly influence your sleep quality, how your body metabolizes certain food groups, and how well you manage stress. 

The Abbot Lingo uses a needle-like sensor that embeds into your skin, with one sensor conducting blood sugar readings for 14 days. The CGM connects to a companion app on your iPhone (there is no Android option yet), where you log food, exercise, and stress levels to try to keep your glucose as steady as possible. The app then connects the dots between your habits and glucose data and gives you lifestyle recommendations to keep your glucose as steady as possible.

As somebody who has dealt with insulin resistance, weight issues, prediabetic diagnoses, and cancer in my lifetime, this product felt specifically designed for my situation. Thus, I wore the Abbott Lingo for three weeks to determine if it was a gimmick or the device I needed to better understand my body.

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The app gives you a step-by-step visual guide on applying your sensor, and it’s a simple and straightforward process. Inserting the sensor felt like using a big plastic stamp on your arm. Taking off the sensor is a bit more barbaric, however, as it has to be ripped off.

After applying, the sensor starts analyzing the glucose data stream. I immediately tested it while eating one of my go-to meals: a turkey sandwich, kettle-cooked chips, and a Diet Coke. I then watched my glucose slowly climb and then drop, affirming my body’s resistance to carbs.

You can call it confirmation bias, but from then on, I became hyper-aware of how foods affected my daily life. I love Chili’s, but it turns out my body doesn’t. Sometimes I had to ignore the idea of the app to try and enjoy something I knew would make me feel bad later. This thought process always backfired, as I would log in the next day and see the physical evidence of my sweet treat. In a way, it added responsibility back into my eating habits more than a calorie tracker could.

While testing, the Lingo revealed some shocking truths. For one, I would have non-food-related spikes during the day attributed to stress, making me realize how much of a worrier I am and showing how it negatively affects my body. Understanding how intertwined my stress levels are with my glucose levels made me more cognizant of managing my stress during the day.

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Secondly, I could see the aftermath of several days of less-than-ideal eating choices. My blood sugar would tank after days of carb-heavy foods without substantial protein and fiber, and it took more than a week of balanced eating to bring my glucose back up to an ideal level.

Lastly, the Lingo completely changed the way I eat my meals. I used to wake up nauseous and skip breakfast; however, I found that my nausea stemmed from my poor eating habits. I started to force myself to eat breakfast, and soon enough, I wasn’t nauseous. On days I ate a protein- and fiber-rich breakfast, my energy was high, my mood was boosted, and my appetite felt practical rather than ravenous or non-existent.

However, the caveat is that the Abbott Lingo is a first-generation product, so the company needs to continue research and development to improve. Specific data, like your Lingo Count, were difficult to understand without some explanation. After a few days of testing, I understood that the Lingo Count alludes to the concentration of your spikes and crashes.

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Sometimes, when I opened the app to check my levels, the sensor would buffer for several minutes. It also does not alert you when your blood sugar is rocketing or crashing, which would be more proactive if it did. Mine crashed during a 5-hour drive on my own. I had to pull over, check my Lingo app, and realize I needed some sort of protein to finish the trip. So, if you’re prone to crashes or spikes, I recommend using another device to alert you of potentially dangerous glucose levels.

Some sort of AI integration, or even connecting the app with a healthcare provider, would be great ways to take this product to the next level, which Abbott is working toward. Understanding glucose is complex, and having a doctor or medical professional involved could help you translate data better while helping you implement better lifestyle choices.

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If you constantly bump your arm on doorways, like I do, I recommend placing the sensor further behind your arm to prevent it from catching. 

It is easy to summarize Abbott Lingo’s philosophy — eat a diet rich in protein and fiber paired with simple carbohydrates while still enjoying your favorite treats in moderation, and you will lead a happier and healthier life.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Abbott Lingo works great for those who want to take their health by the horns, especially if they struggle with insulin resistance or bad eating habits. I would also recommend it to dedicated athletes wanting to monitor their glucose levels to maximize their energy and performance. 

With the caveat that one sensor lasts 14 days and costs $50, it can be pricey for continual use. In my opinion, this CGM embodies “seeing is believing” by being able to take accountability for your own health.