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Understand the science behind Lingo

Know what’s happening with your metabolism – in real time.

Buy Lingo

Understand the science behind Lingo

Know what’s happening with your metabolism – in real time.

The Science
The Science
Glucose fuels all that you do

Glucose fuels all that you do 

Glucose fluctuations are hard to track. Some spikes are good. Some come with negative effects. And it usually takes a glucose science expert to crack the code. That’s where Lingo comes in. The Lingo biosensor and app work together to translate your glucose patterns and deliver real-time, personalised coaching to help you feel your best

Glucose fuels all that you do

Steady glucose equals a healthy metabolism

Metabolism
What is metabolism?

Metabolism is all the biochemical reactions occurring in the body, and one key role of these reactions is converting food and drinks into energy. Your body uses this energy for vital functions such as breathing, brain power, digestion, repairing muscle, and so much more.

Glucose & metabolism
Glucose & metabolism

As your body breaks down food for energy, one of the nutrients that’s absorbed  is glucose. When your glucose is on the rise, your body works to clear this rush of glucose, storing it for future use either as glycogen or fat. When your glucose begins to crash, your body breaks down this stored fuel for energy. 

The benefits of glucose
The benefits of glucose

Consistently steady glucose is one sign of good metabolic health. And improving your metabolic health can help you boost your energy, get better sleep, improve your mood, sharpen your focus, manage your cravings, and more.

Your glucose patterns

Different meals and activities can spike your glucose. Too many intense spikes can lead to fatigue, brain fog, restless sleep, poor mood, and constant cravings. But not all spikes are the same – everyone’s glucose reacts differently.

Lingo bridges the gap, helping bring complex glucose insights to an everyday audience. The Lingo biosensor, app, and proprietary spike detection algorithm work together to translate your daily glucose patterns into one simple number: The Lingo Count. As different foods or activities impact your glucose, Lingo responds with real-time coaching to help you adjust your habits, stick to your health goals, and keep your glucose steady.

Explore the Lingo benefits

Lingo personal metabolic coaching

The inaccessibility of deep glucose insights is exactly why we created Lingo. Lingo puts the power in your hands, coaching you as you learn to manage your glucose and retrain your metabolism.

Managing your glucose

Managing your glucose

How it works

How it works

How to read a stream

How to read a stream

Pioneered by Abbott. Designed for you.

Pioneered by Abbott. Designed for you.

Lingo is developed by Abbott, the world’s no. 1  leader in continuous glucose monitoring technology. Its ground-breaking technology is used by 5 million people every day. 

 

For over 135 years, Abbott has created life-changing health technologies, and Lingo is the newest in its acclaimed history. Designed by distinguished teams of scientists, experts, and dietitians, Lingo is here to help you take control of your metabolic health.

Pioneered by Abbott. Designed for you.

Meet the experts behind Lingo

Building the most impactful, empowering, and accurate product we can isn’t possible without the right people. Get to know some of the experts that helped make Lingo possible.

Benefits to improve your well-being. For good.

Abbott’s market-leading glucose monitoring technology and our proprietary Lingo Count algorithm combine to help you better understand your metabolism and live a healthy lifestyle.

Boost energy

Struggling with low energy? Managing your glucose curve can be an effective way to improve your energy levels. People following a low glycaemic diet have reported feeling 20% less fatigue than those following a high glycaemic diet.*

Manage hunger

Are you really hungry? Research shows that seeing your real-time glucose data could help you understand the difference between feeling hungry and just a passing craving .*

Improve mood

Can you steady your mood? Balancing your glucose can curb a poor mood and improve your mood. One study found that people who ate a high-glycaemic diet had a 55% higher report of poor mood as compared to people who ate a low-glycaemic diet.*

Sleep better

Could you be more rested? Small adjustments to your daily routine can impact sleep. Evidence is emerging from clinical studies that adopting habits known to support steady glucose levels, may lead to better sleep . In turn, better sleep quality may also help you keep your glucose steady.*

Increase focus

Stay focused by analysing your food and lifestyle habits and managing your glucose levels. One study of more than 3,000 young adults showed that those with unsteady glucose levels had diminished memory and processing speed 25 years later.*

Explore more articles

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Why wear a continuous glucose monitor if you don’t have diabetes?

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are wearable, minimally invasive devices that measure glucose levels for days at a time. Historically, these devices have been used by people with diabetes to help monitor and manage their glucose (blood sugar) levels. Since CGMs have revolutionised the management of diabetes, health practitioners have started to utilise CGMs to better understand the glucose response and wider metabolic health of individuals without diabetes. Data from CGMs allows users to know their glucose in near real time as well as view glucose fluctuations over time. A 2023 paper co-authored by Abbott’s medical research team and published in the scientific journal Metabolism found that CGMs like Lingo can be used to improve the metabolic health of people who do not live with diabetes. The research found that managing glucose spikes and keeping blood sugar in a stable, healthy range can have a positive impact on metabolic health. Health benefits of CGMs and limiting glucose spikes Compelling published research shows that using a CGM and limiting glucose spikes, both in the short term and over time, have a number of health benefits for people who don’t have diabetes, including: Being proactive about future health: While both average and fasting glucose levels are important markers for health, glucose extremes and post-meal spikes might matter more. These specific metrics are risk factors for chronic health conditions such as insulin resistance, metabolic disease, and heart disease. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Managing weight: With insights from a CGM, individuals had better success adhering to low-glycaemic and low-carb diets, (6) both of which are effective approaches for weight loss — even without intentional calorie restriction. (6, 7, 8, 9) While using a CGM, you can know your glucose in real time, learn how you uniquely respond to foods and habits, and make dietary changes that support steady glucose and lead to improvements in metabolic health and weight. (6, 10) Identifying cravings vs. true hunger: If you just ate but feel hungrier than before, it could be due to a glucose dip or crash. This rapid fall in glucose, which often follows a glucose spike, will convince you that you need to refuel ASAP. (11) Research shows that using a CGM can identify which eating pattern will keep you on track for having steady energy, such as a low-glycaemic diet. (6) CGMs can also help you differentiate cravings from true hunger, all of which can help with weight loss efforts. (12) Improving sleep: Low-glycaemic diets that nourish steady glucose have been shown to improve both sleep quality and length of sleep. (13, 14) And better sleep supports steady glucose the following day, (15) empowering you to make better choices and continue to stay steady. Using a CGM can highlight food choices that minimise glucose spikes, helping to keep you on track and better understand your glucose patterns while you sleep. (6, 10, 18, 19) Bettering your mood: Research shows that a high-protein, low-glycaemic diet, which helps stabilise glucose, improves mood and can even lessen symptoms of depression. (18, 19) Using a CGM like Lingo can help you understand your individual glucose responses to food and encourage adherence to a low-glycaemic diet, which may provide mental health benefits. (19) A final note from Lingo Published research has shown that there are a number of benefits of limiting glucose spikes, which can be monitored by using a CGM, even if you don’t have diabetes. A CGM like Lingo provides personalised insights into your unique glucose response to food, activity, and other lifestyle choices. With Lingo, you can quickly see the impact of your habits displayed on your glucose graph and know if your glucose is steady, spiking, or crashing. Using this data can help you make healthier choices for your overall well-being.
By
Fundamentals
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What is a glucose spike? Definition, causes and management

Glucose spikes: definition, causes and management After you eat, your body breaks down the food or drink to be used for energy or stored for later use. Of the three macronutrients — carbohydrates, protein, and fat — carbohydrates are the quickest to digest. (1,2) Carbohydrates are converted into glucose, which is one of your body’s main sources of energy. Glucose circulates via the bloodstream to get into cells where it’s used for energy. Any glucose not being used as an immediate source of fuel is shuttled to the liver, muscles, or fat cells and stored for later use. Sometimes the amount of glucose circulating in your body surpasses what is needed for energy. When glucose becomes too concentrated in the blood, this is referred to as a glucose spike or a blood sugar spike. Some degree of rise in glucose is completely normal, but consistent spikes and the crashes that often follow can negatively impact your health and long-term well-being. Even if you don’t have diabetes or pre-diabetes, these constant ups and downs can take a toll, with research suggesting an increased risk for developing insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular issues (3,4). Glucose spikes can also be caused by lifestyle factors such as stress or follow a poor night’s sleep. They can also occur during intense exercise, but in this case, a spike is a good thing. You can take steps to limit or avoid glucose spikes and temper them once they start. Better glucose management can benefit your health in a number of ways, including how you feel, your energy levels, hunger and cravings, sleep, mental focus, and more. Here, we break down what a glucose spike is, what causes it, what they feel like, and how to avoid them in the future. Once you get a better understanding of how glucose works in your body, you can take steps to make healthier choices that will improve your well-being. What is a glucose spike? A glucose spike, also known as a blood sugar spike, is a sharp, marked rise in the amount of glucose in your blood, typically followed by a comparable decline, also known as a crash. While it is normal for your glucose to rise and fall many times throughout the day, a true spike is different. Spikes occur for a myriad of reasons, most commonly after eating an influx of carbs and/or sugar (more on that later) but can also arise due to physiological and psychological stress, intense exercise, dehydration, caffeine intake, certain medications, and other factors. When you have access to monitor your glucose levels with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) like Lingo, you can see your glucose value throughout the day. Metabolically healthy individuals should strive to stay within 70-140mg/dL (3.9-7.8 mmol/L) and those with tighter glucose control will strive to stay within the range of 70-100mg/dL (3.9-5.6mmol/L). Most healthy individuals stay within the wider range most of the time. It’s typical to be out of the 70-140 mg/dl (3.9-7.8mmol/L) range for just 30 minutes to 2 hours a day. (7) Sharp upticks above your average glucose value or above the recommended range are commonly defined as spikes. These excursions look like steep mountains on your Lingo glucose graph. Your goal is to stay within the range of 70-140mg/dL (3.9-7.8mmol/L) most of the time and minimise the occurrence and severity of spikes. With Lingo, coaching prompts, your Lingo Count, and Lingo glucose graph can help you understand when you’re spiking so you can begin to discover the why behind your spikes and make changes to stay steady. What causes a glucose spike? A glucose spike typically happens after eating something particularly carb-heavy, especially if the carbohydrates are mostly simple carbs (e.g. white bread, pasta, bagel) and sugar. A glucose spike can also occur if you eat carbohydrates by themselves; pairing a carb with a source of protein or fat can help limit the glucose impact and reduce the risk of a spike. High-intensity exercise can also cause a glucose spike because it increases adrenaline (the fight-or-flight hormone), which signals to your body that it’s time to break down liver glycogen to glucose. This quick influx of fuel can spike your glucose, but as mentioned, a spike is a good thing in this instance. In the same way that exercise spikes your heart rate temporarily but provides benefit in the long run, a temporary blood glucose rise with exercise is an example of hormesis, which is a short-term stress that enables long-term adaptation. Other lifestyle factors may influence glucose, such as stress and poor sleep. Like with intense exercise, an increase in stress triggers the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, which can raise your glucose as your body needs quick energy to enter into fight-or-flight mode. Not getting enough sleep can disrupt your body’s ability to use glucose, causing future health concerns. (5) Over time this may lead to metabolic issues like prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, a disorder in which your body becomes resistant to insulin and loses its ability to properly remove glucose from the blood into your cells to use for energy. What does a glucose spike feel like? While a glucose spike may feel differently for each person, some common symptoms include tiredness, thirst, and hunger. Alternatively, some people may be asymptomatic and not notice when they are spiking. As your glucose rises, your body releases insulin to manage the extra glucose. As insulin circulates, your glucose rapidly lowers, often leading to a sharp crash. When this happens, your body typically craves more simple carbohydrates and sugar for a quick energy boost, and if you answer the craving, the spike-crash cycle continues. (6) Another major sign of a glucose spike followed by a crash is the feeling of being “hangry” (hungry + angry) in which you may feel irritable while also feeling hungry. This feeling often stems from a drop in glucose that signals an increase in ghrelin, known as the hunger hormone. This triggers a cascade of other hormones including the stress hormone cortisol, which explains why you feel irritable or impulsive in addition to physical hunger pangs. While hanger caused by low glucose can happen when you undereat or go too long in between meals, it can also happen in high glycaemic diets in which your glucose levels are constantly spiking and crashing. After you eat something with a lot of carbs and notice symptoms of a spike, incorporating movement may help temper the spike. A brisk 10-minute walk after eating may be all you need to prevent or lessen a glucose spike. Other quick bursts of exercise can also help, such as 10 minutes of bodyweight squats, jumping jacks, lunges, and calf raises. It’s a good idea to drink plenty of water and opt for something with more protein at your next meal. What is the impact of glucose spikes? In the short term, glucose spikes can cause hunger, cravings, feelings of fatigue, impact mood, and interfere with your sleep. While you’re likely to notice these effects as they're happening, there is impact behind the scenes, too. Glucose spikes can significantly impact the health of blood vessels and cells, with chronic spikes setting the stage for metabolic dysfunction. Elevated glucose increases your risk for developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, causes inflammation, and impacts your blood vessels, which can lead to cardiovascular issues like heart disease. (3,4) This is why it’s important to limit the number and size of glucose spikes that occur. Wearing a continuous glucose monitor like Lingo can help you learn about your glucose and track your spikes. Lingo provides real time data and coaching to help you understand how your habits impact your glucose and metabolic health. With Lingo, you’ll learn to limit the size and frequency spikes and make changes to improve your overall metabolic well-being, which can lead to more energy, better sleep, less hunger and cravings, and increased focus. How to avoid a glucose spike There are many ways to avoid a glucose spike naturally, and the best method is to be thoughtful with your food choices. Limit foods that are common sources of spikes such as refined carbohydrates, sugars, and sugary beverages, and instead opt for more complex carbohydrates that have fibre such as vegetables, fresh fruit, brown rice, quinoa, and whole grain bread. Even better, pair your carbohydrates with a source of protein and/or fat for a macronutrient-balanced option. Other lifestyle habits that can help keep your glucose steady include getting quality sleep, staying physically active, drinking plenty of water, managing stress, and limiting alcohol. A final note from Lingo While glucose spikes are normal and occur in healthy individuals, there are plenty of health benefits to managing your glucose and reducing the size and frequency of spikes. Maintaining steady glucose can help improve your metabolic health and give you more energy, better sleep, reduce hunger and cravings, and boost mental focus. Using a continuous glucose monitor like Lingo can help you understand your habits and patterns and work towards limiting glucose spikes. Lingo is not a medical device and not designed to treat or diagnose any disease or illness. If you have medical questions or concerns regarding your glucose, please contact your doctor.
By
Glucose 101
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What is good nutrition? Advice from our experts for eating well

The food choices you make play an important role in your long-term health. (1) If you’re looking to improve your quality of life in the future, take small steps to improve your eating habits today. For example, if your glucose (commonly referred to as blood sugar) is constantly spiking and crashing — usually thanks to food choices such as eating a lot of refined carbohydrates or sugar — it can lead to health complications down the road. Research suggests that years of dysregulated glucose, or consistently riding this glucose rollercoaster, can impact heart health as we age. (2) And it’s not just heart health; managing your glucose can also help you maintain a healthy weight, improve your metabolic health, and more. The short-term benefits of keeping your glucose levels steady include helping you manage cravings, achieving better energy, improving mood and sleep. (3)(4)(5) One of the best ways to manage your glucose and reap the health benefits, both in the short term and in the long run, is to dial in your nutrition (although exercise has profound benefits, too). Luckily, we have several tips below to help you balance your plate, make healthier food choices, and manage your glucose. How to build a balanced plate While some nutrition is common sense (you know a bowl of steamed broccoli is healthier for you than a bowl of jellybeans), you also don’t have to overcomplicate building a balanced plate for steady glucose. A good formula to follow is the rule of three: Fill ½ of your plate with non-starchy vegetables (e.g. asparagus, Brussels sprouts, peppers), ¼ with complex carbohydrates (e.g. sweet potato, brown rice, quinoa), and the remaining ¼ with high-quality protein (e.g. steak, chicken, fish). Include healthy fat (e.g. avocado, nuts, seeds, or a drizzle of olive oil) across these three sections. This helps ensure that you’re pairing carbs with protein and high-fibre veggies, which will not only improve satiety but also help slow down the rate that your body absorbs glucose, lessening a spike. (6) More specifically, we’ve outlined the best choices to make in each of these sections and why they’re good for your glucose and overall metabolic health: Non-starchy vegetables: These are vegetables that grow above ground – peppers, broccoli, spinach, green beans, cabbage, cauliflower, courgettes/zucchini, lettuces. They provide vitamins and minerals as well as fibre, which can slow down digestion and reduce glucose spikes. (7) Moreover, adding diverse sources of fibre to your diet effectively diversifies your gut microbiome — your body’s complex community of microorganisms that call your digestive tract home. (8) Having a healthy gut microbiome may also positively impact glucose control both now and later. (9) High-quality protein: Chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, beef, tofu, or legumes (like lentils or chickpeas), nuts, and Greek yoghurt are all great choices. Protein is essential to a healthy immune system, muscle health, and keeps you fuller, longer, helping to fend off hunger (6) throughout the day and in those evening hours when you’re tempted to reach for a bedtime snack. Complex carbohydrates: Whole grain bread, pulses, wild rice, quinoa, potatoes, sweet potatoes, couscous, whole grain pasta, or amaranth are all good options. These complex carbohydrates are digested more slowly than their refined counterparts (sugar, white bread) (10) and provide a steady source of energy. (11) Include healthy fats: Avocado, a tablespoon of nuts or seeds, or a drizzle of olive oil or rapeseed oil offer not only nutrients, but also extra flavour and satiety. Plus, fats help slow down digestion and steady your glucose. Add these flavourful fats throughout your meal, especially to veggies. High-quality oils and healthy fats help your body absorb vitamins A, E, and K, which are naturally occurring in vegetables. (12) No naked carbs: Part of building a balanced plate is making sure you don’t eat carbs by themselves, what we call “naked carbs.” When eating your carbs, make sure you eat them alongside or after a source of high-quality protein to help prevent a spike. (13) Pairing carbs with protein, fat, and fibre helps keep your glucose steady. For example, a piece of toast by itself can lead to a glucose spike, but topping with avocado and eggs can help balance the carbs and keep you steady. More tips from our experts for eating well It’s important to eat foods you genuinely enjoy and not deprive yourself. Not allowing yourself to eat your favourite comfort foods in moderation often leads to a binge later on. Plus, if you restrict your food choices and calories too much, this can actually backfire and create further health complications such as nutrient deficiencies, low energy, fatigue, muscle depletion, and slowing down your metabolism. (14) We have outlined several tangible tips for eating well that you can implement today. While it may take a bit to establish a habit, practising the tips below will set you up for success when it comes to eating healthfully and making better choices. Eat slowly. Pay attention to the speed you’re eating your food. The more time you take to chew and enjoy your food, the better you’ll signal to your body when you’re satisfied. People who eat more slowly consume less than those eating more quickly. (15) The order in which you eat your food matters. When you sit down to eat your meal, focus on eating your veggies first, then protein. Finish with your serving of carbs.​ The fibre in vegetables, as well as proteins and fats slow the rate that food leaves the stomach, thereby impacting the rate at which glucose is absorbed and mitigating glucose spikes. (13) Stay hydrated. Staying hydrated is essential to support a health metabolism. The recommended daily water for adults is 2.7 litres for women and 3.7 litres for men. (16) Plan ahead. Meal prep, batch cook, and plan your menu for the week to stay on track. Make sure you have shelf-stable, high-protein and high-fibre snacks within reach for when hunger strikes (nuts, jerky sticks, and dried edamame are all good options). Having healthy snacks throughout the day will also help stabilise your glucose and hunger so you don’t overeat. If you’re craving a sweet treat, enjoy it after or alongside a serving of protein; eat that dark chocolate square with some roasted almonds. Eat mindfully. You tend to eat more when your attention is on something else, like the television, your phone, or work. This is particularly true when what you’re eating is highly processed and high in sugar. (17) When you sit down to eat, put all distractions away and focus on your plate. Pay attention to how your food tastes, the texture, and really enjoy your meal. Limit ultraprocessed foods and simple carbs. Ultraprocessed foods, such as breakfast cereal, instant noodles, pretzels, crisps, and packaged biscuits are designed to be highly palatable with minimal nutrients. This means they are often eaten in excess, don’t provide the same satiety and nutrients as whole foods, and can lead to weight gain and glucose spikes. (17) While ultraprocessed foods can be convenient in a pinch, focus on eating whole foods (fruits, vegetables, high-quality protein, whole grains) as often as possible. More specifically, sugar and simple carbohydrates (such as white bread, pasta, candy, and baked goods) can spike your glucose, leading to a likely crash and leaving you tired and sluggish. Work to limit your simple carb intake and opt for fibrous and complex carbohydrates (like whole grains, wild rice, fruits, and vegetables) instead. Skip the see-food diet. Store most of your food out of sight, especially your favourite comfort and snack foods. Keep countertops clear (save for a small fruit bowl) and put healthy foods and snacks in the front of your refrigerator. Clear containers of chopped raw veggies to snack on (like carrot or celery sticks) and high-protein options should be within eyesight, while high-carb comfort food should be stored in the back. Know your body. Gaining insight into how your body responds to certain foods and the impact it has on your glucose can inspire changes. With a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) like Lingo’s biosensor, you’ll learn how to reduce glucose spikes after meals by making sensible nutrition choices that will support metabolic health and promote a healthy weight. A final note from Lingo Making healthier food choices doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and you shouldn’t restrict your favourite foods. Instead, focus on making small, sustainable changes and pay attention to how you balance your plate at meals. By prioritising high-quality protein, loading up on fibrous veggies, adding in healthy fats, not eating naked carbs, and limiting ultraprocessed sugar-laden foods, you’ll be well on your way to eating for better overall health and well-being. With a CGM like Lingo, you’ll gain personalised insights into how your glucose levels are impacted by the food you eat, and work to make healthier choices for you and your long-term well-being.
By
Fundamentals
Hunger

Frequently Asked Questions

If you want to understand your metabolism and learn how to transform the way you feel, then Lingo is 100% for you.
However, the Lingo programme does not guarantee that everyone will achieve the same results as individual responses may vary. It’s always best to speak with your doctor or registered dietitian before starting any new diet or exercise regime.
Do not use if you are pregnant, dietary advice and Lingo counts may not be suitable for you if you are pregnant.
This product is not for people who are dealing with or have had eating disorders.
No, the Lingo system is not intended for medical use or for the management of diabetes. It is not intended for use in screening, diagnosis, treatment, cure, mitigation, prevention, or monitoring of diseases, including diabetes.
We use data from your biosensor to create your personalised training programme. We also use your product feedback anonymously to help us make the Lingo experience even better for you and others. For more information of how we process data and monitor communications, please see our privacy policy.
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© 2024 Abbott. All rights reserved. Lingo and related marks are marks of the Abbott group of companies. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.Lingo Sensing Technology Unlimited Company is a private Unlimited Company with registered number 731659. Our registered office is at 70 Sir John Rogersons Quay, Dublin 2, D02 R296, Ireland.The Lingo system is not for medical use and intended for users 18 years and older. Lingo is not intended for diagnosis or management of any disease including diabetes. The Lingo programme does not guarantee that everyone will achieve the same results as individual responses may vary. It is best to speak to your doctor for advice on starting any diet or exercise regime or if you have an eating disorder or a history of eating disorders.
The Lingo Glucose Biosensor is CE Marked under the Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU (RED)
The Lingo Glucose Biosensor is UKCA Marked under the Radio Equipment Regulations 2017 No 1206 (RER)