Why Wearable Glucose Sensors Could Be the Next Health Trend

Smart watches and smart rings have become increasingly popular in recent years, gracing the wrists and fingers of consumers who use them to monitor their workouts, sleep and heart activity.

Now, medical device makers including Abbott Laboratories are hoping health enthusiasts will embrace a new type of health accessory: wearable glucose sensors.

Previously, such devices required a prescription in the US; the new ones are not, and they are not just for diabetics.

Abbott’s new device, called Lingo, is aimed at people who don’t have diabetes but want to see how food and activity affect their glucose levels and how that might relate to their mood, energy levels and sleep quality.

Abbott says it’s the next frontier in wearable health technology, although questions remain about whether people will pay for it.