Abbott, Google Health partner on AI glucose coaching for 115M prediabetics

Abbott's over-the-counter Lingo glucose monitor will integrate with Google Health's AI coaching in a multi-year partnership, giving more than 115 million American adults with prediabetes a data-driven path to earlier intervention.

"The biggest challenge in healthcare isn't treating disease—it's helping people stay healthier longer," Olivier Ropars, divisional vice president of Abbott's Lingo business, said.

The collaboration combines real-time glucose readings from Lingo — Abbott's OTC continuous glucose monitor built on its FreeStyle Libre platform — with Google Health's AI capabilities. Users will see glucose trends alongside Fitbit and other health metrics in the Google Health app, with Google Health Coach delivering personalized recommendations on nutrition, activity, sleep and recovery. Lingo integrations roll out later this year.

The partnership targets a metabolic health crisis where more than 2 in 5 U.S. adults have prediabetes and roughly 8 in 10 are unaware. Poor metabolic health is linked to Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Abbott's Lingo business gains distribution through Google's consumer reach, while Google Health adds a clinical-grade biometric data stream to its AI coaching platform.

The partnership has three focus areas: connecting glucose data to a broader health picture, delivering AI-powered personalized guidance, and establishing new science through one of the largest real-world metabolic health studies to date — integrating continuous glucose, wearable, laboratory and survey data to uncover connections between activity, sleep, wellbeing and metabolic health.

Lingo's OTC Push Meets Google's Consumer Reach

Lingo launched in the U.S. in September 2024 as Abbott's entry into the consumer glucose monitoring market, available at hellolingo.com, Amazon, Walmart, Walgreens, BestBuy.com and Publix. The device is intended for adults 18 and older who are not using insulin and is not designed for disease diagnosis. Lingo is also available in the U.K., with the companion app downloadable on both Android and iOS. The Google Health integration extends Lingo's reach beyond Abbott's direct channels into Google's consumer health platform, which also aggregates data from Fitbit wearables.

The competitive stakes are significant. Dexcom's Stelo OTC CGM competes directly in the consumer glucose monitoring space, while Medtronic continues to dominate the prescription CGM market. Abbott's partnership with Google Health gives it a distribution advantage that rivals lack — Google's Health Coach, powered by Gemini AI, can translate glucose data into actionable daily guidance at a scale no standalone CGM app can match.

Real-World Study to Shape Future AI Guidance

The partnership includes one of the largest real-world metabolic health studies to date, combining continuous glucose, wearable, laboratory and survey data. The research aims to generate new insights into the relationship between glucose and everyday behaviors, which will inform future AI-powered guidance in Google Health and new Lingo product features.

"The future of health lies in turning complex health information into personalized guidance that people can use every day," Rishi Chandra, vice president and general manager of Google Health, said.

Google Health Coach requires a Google Health Premium subscription, the Google Health app and an internet connection. Features are subject to change and availability varies by device. The tool is not intended for medical purposes.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT), a global healthcare leader with 122,000 employees serving more than 160 countries, gains a distribution channel through Google's consumer platform that could expand Lingo's addressable market well beyond its current U.S. and U.K. footprint. The partnership positions Abbott's biowearable business at the intersection of consumer health and AI, a segment where Google's Health Coach and Gemini capabilities provide a technical edge over standalone CGM apps. Whether the market has priced in this distribution upside remains to be seen — Abbott shares had not reacted to the announcement as of this writing.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.