Walmart Becomes First U.S. Retailer to Offer Abbott’s Over-the-Counter Glucose Monitor

Walmart is now the first U.S. retailer to sell Abbott Laboratories’ over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor, Lingo, both in-store and online. Previously, Lingo was available only through HelloLingo.com and Amazon.

Lingo features a small, flexible sensor worn under the skin, typically on the upper arm. It measures glucose levels every few minutes. A two-week supply, including the sensor and access to the Lingo app (currently iPhone-only), is priced at $48.97 at Walmart.

Abbott launched Lingo last year to target health-conscious consumers. Its other product, FreeStyle Libre, is primarily for people with diabetes and is mostly available by prescription. In the third quarter, sales of Abbott’s continuous glucose monitors grew 20.5% to $2.0 billion.

This move by Walmart reflects the growing demand for continuous glucose monitors, driven by increased diabetes awareness, expanded insurance coverage, and consumer preference for non-invasive technologies.