(Reuters) -Walmart will become the first U.S. retailer to sell an over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor in physical stores, as Abbott Laboratories’ Lingo rolls out to more than 3,500 locations and online, Axios reported on Tuesday, citing the medical device maker.
Abbott said its device was previously available only at HelloLingo.com and Amazon, the report added.
Walmart and Abbott did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Continuous glucose monitor makers such as Abbott, Dexcom and Medtronic are riding a surge in demand as diabetes awareness rises, insurance coverage expands and patients embrace finger-prick-free technology.
Lingo has a small, flexible sensor inserted just under the skin, usually on the back of the upper arm. The sensor measures glucose levels every few minutes.
The two-week pack with one sensor costs $48.97 at Walmart, including access to the Lingo app, which is available only for iPhone now, according to Axios’ report.
Abbott launched Lingo last year, targeting consumers who want to better understand their health, while its other lineup, FreeStyle Libre, is for people with diabetes and is mostly available on prescription basis.
In the third quarter, sales of Abbott’s continuous glucose monitors grew 20.5% to $2.0 billion.
(Reporting by Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)
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