In September, the first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor approved by the FDA entered the U.S. market. Five months later, the devices have made a splash in the wellness industry, NBC News reported Feb. 2.
The monitors, which track blood sugar levels, have historically been approved solely for diabetic patients since 1999.
The OTC approval affects not only the approximately 38 million Americans with diabetes but the 97.6 million who are prediabetic and people who want to track their blood sugar. On Reddit, users are promoting the devices for weight loss and exercise tracking; and on a broader scale, the monitors could accelerate earlier diabetes diagnoses, according to the report.