Abbott's new Libre Assist app feature tackles a top need for people living with diabetes: in-the-moment food decisions

Rhea-AI Summary

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) launched Libre Assist on Jan. 5, 2026 — a free feature in the Libre app that uses generative AI and FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data to guide in-the-moment food decisions for people living with diabetes.

Users can snap a photo or enter text to get a color-coded glucose-impact prediction (green/yellow/orange), actionable meal tips to lower impact, and post-meal confirmation using personal Libre CGM sensor data. Libre Assist is available at no extra cost in the Libre app on Apple App Store and Google Play.

News Market Reaction

+1.82%

1 alert

+1.82% News Effect

On the day this news was published, ABT gained 1.82%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

CES 2026 dates: Jan. 6–9, 2026 CES booth: Booth #8713

2 metrics

CES 2026 dates Jan. 6–9, 2026 Abbott exhibiting Libre Assist at CES 2026

CES booth Booth #8713 Location of Abbott’s exhibit for Libre Assist

Market Reality Check

Price: $124.98 Vol: Volume 4,892,333 is at 0....

normal vol

$124.98 Last Close

Volume Volume 4,892,333 is at 0.85x the 20-day average of 5,726,504 shares. normal

Technical Shares trade below the 200-day MA of 130.05, suggesting a weaker intermediate trend.

Peers on Argus

ABT is down 0.88% with peers mostly slightly negative (e.g., BSX -1.06%, SYK -0....

ABT is down 0.88% with peers mostly slightly negative (e.g., BSX -1.06%, SYK -0.88%, MDT roughly flat), and no peers in the momentum scanner, pointing to a stock-specific drift rather than a strong sector move.

Common Catalyst Only one peer (SYK) has an earnings-date headline today, not a broad sector catalyst.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 22 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 22	FDA approval	Positive	-0.2%	Volt PFA system gained FDA approval to treat atrial fibrillation.
Dec 18	Regulatory clearance	Positive	-1.3%	Amplatzer Piccolo delivery system received FDA clearance and CE Mark.
Dec 12	Dividend increase	Positive	+1.8%	Quarterly dividend lifted by 6.8%, extending multi-decade growth streak.
Dec 08	Product expansion	Positive	-2.4%	Lingo CGM platform expanded to Android users in U.S. and U.K.
Dec 06	CSR initiative	Positive	-2.4%	‘We Give Blood’ campaign reported large donation surge and major award.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive operational and regulatory news has often been met with flat to negative 24-hour price reactions, with only one clearly aligned move.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Abbott reported multiple regulatory wins and corporate updates. On Dec 22, 2025, the Volt™ PFA system earned FDA approval for atrial fibrillation, and on Dec 18, 2025, the Amplatzer Piccolo™ delivery system received FDA clearance and CE Mark. A 6.8% dividend increase was announced on Dec 12, 2025. Abbott also expanded its Lingo™ CGM offering and highlighted a major blood-donation campaign. Despite these constructive milestones, several drew negative next-day price reactions, similar to today’s modest weakness on product news.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement adds an AI-driven meal guidance feature, Libre Assist, to Abbott’s Libre app, deep...

Analysis

This announcement adds an AI-driven meal guidance feature, Libre Assist, to Abbott’s Libre app, deepening integration with its FreeStyle Libre CGM platform. It underscores Abbott’s focus on real-time, personalized diabetes support rather than standalone hardware. In context of recent regulatory wins and product expansions, it continues a theme of incremental innovation. Investors may watch how widely Libre Assist is adopted, its impact on user engagement, and how it complements Abbott’s broader diabetes and digital health strategy.

Key Terms

generative ai, continuous glucose monitoring (cgm)

2 terms

generative ai technical

"Libre Assist1 uses generative AI to predict how a food choice may affect..."

Generative AI is a type of computer technology that can create new content, like text, images, or music, on its own. It’s important because it can produce realistic and useful material quickly, which could change how we create art, write stories, or even develop new products. Think of it as a smart robot that can invent and produce things almost like a human.

continuous glucose monitoring (cgm) medical

"Abbott's world-leading FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology..."

A continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system is a small wearable sensor and transmitter that measures a person’s blood sugar levels continuously and sends real‑time readings to a display or smartphone app, reducing the need for finger‑prick tests. Investors care because CGM shifts diabetes care toward ongoing device sales, subscriptions and data services; wider patient adoption, insurance coverage and better accuracy can drive steady revenue and create opportunities for new health products and analytics, similar to moving from one‑off purchases to a subscription service.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

• Traditional food logging apps offer feedback after the fact—Libre Assist¹ offers help in-the-moment to inform mealtime decisions before every bite
• Libre Assist¹ leverages AI to predict how food choices affect glucose levels,² provides personalized meal guidance,³ and confirms glucose impact using data from Abbott's world-leading FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology⁴
• Abbott is launching Libre Assist, available at no additional cost within the Libre app,⁵ during CES® 2026

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Jan. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT), a leading healthcare company, today unveiled Libre Assist,¹ a groundbreaking feature within the Libre app⁵ designed to help the millions of people living with diabetes in the U.S. better understand how the foods they eat affect their glucose levels. ^1,2 Unlike traditional food logging apps that only give feedback after a meal is logged, Libre Assist¹ helps people make informed mealtime decisions before they eat. Abbott is launching the new technology during CES 2026 in Las Vegas.

For people living with diabetes, daily health decisions are constant, and food choices are among the most critical, especially for those managing their condition solely through lifestyle changes. The challenge is intensified by each person's unique response to food, making every meal decision complex.

"The Libre Assist¹ feature is a gamechanger for me," said Shirley Bovshow, who lives with Type 2 diabetes and is one of the first to try Abbott's new feature. "Traditional food logging apps left me guessing. With Libre Assist¹ I can see how a meal might affect my glucose before I eat²—especially helpful when dining out or trying new foods. It gives me tips to reduce the glucose impact³ and my Libre 3 Plus sensor confirms the outcome afterward. The Libre app⁵ has become a go-to tool for me."

Libre Assist¹ uses generative AI to predict how a food choice may affect a person's glucose levels.² It then offers actionable and personalized meal guidance ³ to support in-the-moment decisions. After the meal, it leverages data from Abbott's leading Libre CGM systems sensors⁴ to confirm the actual impact.

Libre Assist¹ offers:

• In-the-moment meal guidance: Before eating, users simply snap a photo or enter a text description of their food. The algorithm then identifies the ingredients and predicts the meal's potential glucose impact² by displaying a color-coded rating: green for minor, yellow for moderate, and orange for major. Plus, it provides practical meal tips³ to help lower the potential glucose impact² – like choosing plain Greek yogurt instead of flavored or eating leafy greens and proteins before starches.
• Powerful CGM integration: After a meal, Libre Assist shows the individual's personal glucose data from their Libre CGM systems sensor to show how the meal actually affected their glucose. ^1.2 This personalized feedback helps individuals understand their body's unique response to different food items, so they can make informed decisions in the future.

"People living with diabetes need more than apps that just log food and fall short of helping them with meal decisions," said Marc Taub, vice president of technical operations for Abbott's diabetes care business. "That's why Abbott built Libre Assist¹ – a free, and advanced predictive tool that delivers personalized meal guidance and works with our leading Libre technology to deliver real-time glucose insights. For the first time, people have smart, in-the-moment support right at their fingertips to make a confident choice every time they eat. ^2,3"

Libre Assist¹ can be accessed within the Libre app⁵ by clicking on the Insights tab on the bottom navigation. There's nothing extra to sign up for – no monthly fees, no additional purchases, and no separate prescription required. To get started, individuals can download the Libre by Abbott app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Abbott at CES 2026
Visit Abbott at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Jan. 6–9, 2026, at CES Booth #8713 to learn more about Libre Assist¹ feature and how it's shaping the future of health technology.

About FreeStyle Libre:
Abbott continues to pioneer ground-breaking technology to support people living with diabetes. The company revolutionized diabetes care 10 years ago with its world-leading FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring portfolio⁴, which today is used by more than 7 million people across over 60 countries⁴. People use Libre technology to see their glucose numbers in real-time, providing insights into how food, activity, or insulin impacts their glucose to help them make progress on their health goals. There is full or partial reimbursement for Libre systems in more than 40 countries⁴.

About Abbott:
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

Important Safety Information: Product for prescription only, for Important Safety Information, please visit https://www.freestyle.abbott/us-en/safety-information.html.

¹ Libre Assist is a feature within Libre app that uses generative artificial intelligence to provide information on how foods could impact your glucose levels. Generative artificial intelligence may not always be accurate, and it should not be used to make treatment decisions.
² Predicted glucose impact is based on user-provided food data and may differ from actual impact, which depends on sensor readings and factors like activity, stress, medication, and alcohol. For personalized advice, consult your healthcare provider.
³ Personalized meal guidance is based on food preference information inputted by the user.
⁴ Data on File, Abbott Diabetes Care.
⁵ The FreeStyle Libre systems apps are only compatible with certain mobile devices and operating systems. Please check the Support section of our website for more information about device compatibility before using the apps. Use of the FreeStyle Libre systems apps may require registration with LibreView.

 

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SOURCE Abbott

FAQ

What is Libre Assist from Abbott (ABT) and when was it announced?

Libre Assist is a generative-AI feature in the Libre app that predicts meal glucose impact and offers guidance; it was announced on Jan. 5, 2026.

How does Abbott's Libre Assist (ABT) predict glucose impact before a meal?

Users snap a photo or enter text; the feature identifies ingredients and shows a color-coded prediction (green/yellow/orange) of potential glucose impact.

Does Libre Assist (ABT) require a paid subscription or prescription?

No; Libre Assist is available at no additional cost within the Libre app and requires no separate prescription.

How does Libre Assist (ABT) use FreeStyle Libre CGM data after meals?

After eating, Libre Assist displays the individual's Libre CGM sensor data to confirm how the meal actually affected glucose levels.

Which devices and app stores support Abbott's Libre Assist (ABT)?

Libre Assist is accessible inside the Libre app and can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Where and when did Abbott (ABT) unveil Libre Assist?

Abbott introduced Libre Assist at CES 2026 and invited visitors to its booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Jan. 6–9, 2026.