The news: The first glucose monitor for weight loss was cleared by the FDA this week. The newly approved Signos system uses an AI platform along with Stelo, Dexcom’s over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor (CGM), for real-time tracking and recommendations.
How we got here: Dexcom’s Stelo was cleared last year for over-the-counter purchasing, along with Abbott’s Lingo and Rio devices.
- The devices, which cost about $100 per 30-day use, are marketed as metabolism trackers for health and wellness. They also market for weight loss, although they’re not specifically cleared by the FDA for that.
- Healthcare professionals agree that most people without diabetes don’t need to constantly track glucose levels, but some studies have shown individuals success in adopting a healthier diet, per NPR.
Zooming out: Lifestyle CGM tracking companies like Nutrisense and Levels, whose devices are not FDA cleared, are marketing to health-conscious people who want to track metabolic changes including those trying to lose weight.