Abbott expands Lingo's availability to Android devices in the US, significantly expanding market reach –
The company continues to target the wellness market for its OTC CGM and highlights new data supporting glycemic health with protein supplementation
Abbott announced today that its over-the-counter (OTC) CGM, Lingo, is now available for use with Android devices. Launched in September 2024 first for adult iOS users not on insulin therapy, the app is now downloadable via the Google Play Store, alongside its continued availability on iOS through the Apple App Store. Lingo can be purchased in the US via hellolingo.com, Amazon, and Walmart (both in-store and online). With some estimates suggesting Android phones comprise over 40% of the US smartphone market, this expansion is set to significantly broaden Lingo's reach.
Lingo suggested as an agent driving behavior change through personalized insights
Abbott continues to position Lingo as a tool for driving behavior change. Today’s press release suggested that 95% of Lingo users report adopting new habits based on glucose insights, addressing the 80% of Americans who fail to recognize glucose as a key health indicator. Abbott has targeted the chronic disease prevention and pre-diabetes markets, focusing on the need for glucose awareness. Recent national campaigns include the airing of “Tim and His Glucose” during the 2025 US Open finals to highlight the impact of glucose levels on daily life, and "Spike Sessions" with tennis phenom Serena Williams used glucose data to highlight small but meaningful lifestyle changes. By predominantly showing users how food, exercise, and stress impact glucose in real time and suggesting small lifestyle changes to optimize that, Abbott aims to distinguish Lingo from its FreeStyle Libre platform continues to develop a new wellness-focused user base.
Beyond marketing, OTC CGM received expanded contextual explanation in the 2026 ADA Standards of Care published yesterday, including clarification that Lingo and Dexcom’s Stelo can be used by “those without diabetes or with prediabetes who wish to assess their glycemic responses to lifestyles.” The ADA also specified that because these devices lack alarms they can be used by “people not taking diabetes medications that increase the risk of hypoglycemia.”
New real-world data shows improved glycemic outcomes with protein supplementation
Today’s announcement also highlighted new internal data suggesting that protein supplementation, including high-protein nutritional drinks like Abbott’s two new Ensure Max shakes launched last week, is linked to lower mean glucose levels, especially among those with obesity. On days when Lingo users logged protein supplements, they had a 15% lower chance of experiencing glucose spikes above the “healthy range” (which we imagine was defined similarly to TIR (80-180 mg/dL), though we are always intrigued to learn more about the impact on TITR (80-140 mg/dL) on those without diabetes and a mean glucose reduction of 2 mg/dL compared to days without protein intake. For users with obesity, the effects were slightly more pronounced: an 18% reduction in the odds of glucose spikes above the healthy range and a 3 mg/dL reduction in mean glucose. We would be intrigued to see even more granular data and better understand where people using Lingo were starting from in their glucose journey.
Close Concerns’ Questions
- Will Android compatibility roll out to the UK as well, and if so, when?
- Ms. Roya Winner: Lingo now works with Android in the U.S. and the UK. Existing Lingo sensors do not require a separate purchase.
- How many US users has Lingo acquired since launch, and what proportion of users are repurchasing?
- What is the current sales mix across hellolingo.com, Amazon, and Walmart?
- Will Android compatibility roll out to existing Lingo products already on the market, or do separate sensors need to be purchased to be compatible with Android devices?
--by Jeremy Alkire, Monica Oxenreiter, and Kelly Close