Abbott introduces world’s first glucose biosensor for athletes

Tracking and understanding glucose levels enable athletes to fuel appropriately through nutrition

Abbott is introducing the world’s first glucose sport biosensor, Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, which is designed for athletes to continuously measure glucose to better understand the correlation between their glucose levels and their athletic performance.

The Libre Sense biosensor is based on Abbott’s world-leading FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring technology, which was originally developed for people living with diabetes. Based on that technology, this is the first personal-use product that allows for use beyond diabetes.

Abbott’s Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, with CE Mark (Conformité Européenne), is a consumer over-the-counter product that provides glucose monitoring via a mobile app to athletes (ages 16 years and older) performing sports such as cycling, running, and swimming, to understand the efficacy of their nutrition choices on training and competition.

Tracking and understanding glucose levels enable athletes to fuel appropriately through nutrition to help avoid fatigue from low glucose and to know when to replenish during training and competition to maintain peak performance.

To obtain glucose readings from Abbott’s Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, athletes will wear the small round biosensor (approximately the size of a two Euro coin) on the back of their upper arm. The biosensor will provide real-time glucose values and can be worn for up to 14 days. The user will automatically receive streaming glucose data, via Bluetooth^® wireless technology, every minute designed to work with compatible mobile apps and wrist readers.

Working together with sports technology companies for distribution, Abbott’s Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor is designed to be compatible with these companies’ mobile apps and other accessory devices. Abbott’s first non-exclusive collaboration is with Supersapiens, an Atlanta-based sports technology company that is focused on improving athletic performance. Their mission is to provide athletes with actionable and personalized insights on real-time biometric data, starting with glucose.

Abbott’s Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor will be available in the coming weeks directly through the Supersapiens website. The product will initially be made available across eight European countries: Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Proper nutrition at the right intervals allows athletes to maintain a stable glucose level during endurance activities, which is important for managing overall energy and avoiding muscle fatigue. A study published in the American College of Sports Medicine showed that an athlete who understands the effects of their nutritional intake will have a better chance at improving their performance during exercise. In addition, research has shown that understanding real-time glucose levels can guide nutritional intake to help improve muscle recovery and athletic performance.