Stelo vs Lingo on a GLP-1: Which Over-the-Counter CGM Fits?

You can now buy a continuous glucose monitor off the shelf, no prescription needed. The two you'll actually be choosing between are Dexcom's Stelo and Abbott's Lingo. If you're on a GLP-1 and want to see what the drug is doing to your glucose, either one will do the job. The differences are real but small, so here's what separates them.

The quick comparison

Both are 14 to 15 day sensors, both cost a little under $90 a month, and both are meant for people who don't use insulin.

Dexcom Stelo runs about 15 days per sensor at roughly $89 a month. It takes 30 minutes to warm up, reads every 5 minutes, and reports a MARD accuracy around 8.3%. It's water resistant to 8 feet and leans on AI-flavored insights plus photo food logging, with Apple Health, Apple Watch, and Oura integrations.

Abbott Lingo runs about 14 days per sensor at roughly $84 a month. It warms up in 60 minutes, reads every minute, and reports a MARD around 9.3%. Its app centers on coaching and a "Lingo Score," with manual food and exercise logging and Apple Health / Health Connect support.

What actually matters for a GLP-1 user

Forget the spec sheet for a second. For someone watching their glucose on a GLP-1, three things carry real weight.

Reading frequency and warm-up. Lingo samples every minute versus Stelo's five, which can make its post-meal curve look smoother in the moment. Stelo warms up in half the time, so you're collecting data sooner after applying it.

The app you'll actually open. Stelo's photo logging and integrations suit people who like automation and already live in Apple Health. Lingo's coaching and single-score approach suit people who want a nudge and a simple daily readout. This is mostly personal taste, and it's the thing you'll interact with every day, so it deserves more weight than a fractional accuracy difference.

Price over a year. The monthly numbers are close, so cost rarely decides it. Both are HSA/FSA eligible, which softens the sticker either way.

The important limit on both

Neither Stelo nor Lingo is intended for people who use insulin or who have type 1 diabetes. They're built for the metabolic-health and weight-management user, which is exactly the GLP-1-for-weight audience. If you use insulin, this is a conversation for your clinician and a different class of prescription sensor, not an over-the-counter pick.

So which one?

If you want the faster warm-up, slightly better reported accuracy, and deep Apple ecosystem hooks, Stelo edges it. If you want minute-by-minute readings, in-app coaching, and a slightly lower price, Lingo edges it. Neither choice is a mistake for seeing your own glucose response on a GLP-1. The sensor that helps most is the one whose app you'll actually keep looking at.