One of America’s biggest companies is making a splash in the world of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).
On Oct. 21, Walmart (NYSE: WMT) revealed that it will be the first U.S. retailer to sell an over-the-counter CGM in physical stores. Specifically, the retail giant is offering Abbott’s (NYSE: ABT) Lingo across more than 3,500 locations and via online shopping.
Previously, Abbott’s tech was only available at HelloLingo.com and Amazon. Broadly, Lingo is a wearable that tracks an individual’s glucose levels 24/7. It then translates that data into insights to help build healthier habits and avoid unwanted health outcomes.
Abbott launched Lingo in 2024 for consumers interested in their health data. The company’s FreeStyle Libre is for individuals living with diabetes.
For HME providers, the move signals how mainstream players are normalizing continuous monitoring and data-driven wellness.
When Walmart stocks a biosensor device next to blood pressure cuffs and pulse oximeters, it reframes these tools not as clinical gadgets but as everyday health accessories. That shift could expand consumer awareness, and comfort, with technology moving forward.
As the public becomes more aware and comfortable with CGM technology, it could accelerate acceptance of other remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices used in chronic disease management and home care.
What’s more, the news about Walmart stocking Lingo reinforces how large retailers are blurring the lines between consumer health and medical-grade technology – a space where traditional HME providers have long played a critical role.
