Abbott has launched a new AI-powered tool that promises to take the guesswork out of mealtime decisions for people with diabetes, giving them real-time guidance on how food choices will impact their glucose levels before they take a bite.
The healthcare giant unveiled Libre Assist during CES 2026 in Las Vegas, introducing it as a free feature within the existing Libre app ecosystem. Unlike traditional food logging applications that provide feedback after meals are consumed, Libre Assist uses generative AI to predict glucose impact in advance, offering practical meal guidance through a simple color-coded system.
“Traditional food logging apps left me guessing. With Libre Assist I can see how a meal might affect my glucose before I eat—especially helpful when dining out or trying new foods,” said Shirley Bovshow, who lives with Type 2 diabetes and was among the feature’s early users. The sentiment captures exactly what sets this tool apart in a crowded diabetes management marketplace.
How It Works
Using Libre Assist couldn’t be more straightforward. Users simply snap a photo of their meal or enter a text description, and the algorithm does the rest. It identifies ingredients and predicts potential glucose impact, displaying results through an intuitive color scheme: green for minor impact, yellow for moderate, and orange for major.
But it doesn’t stop at warnings. The system also provides actionable suggestions to help users modify their meal choices to achieve better glucose outcomes — a critical difference from passive monitoring tools.
What about accessibility? That’s where Abbott has made some notable decisions. Libre Assist comes at no additional cost within the Libre app — no monthly fees, additional purchases, or separate prescriptions required. It’s integrated directly into the ecosystem already used by more than 7 million people across over 60 countries.
The Bigger Picture
For the diabetes community, mealtime decisions represent one of the most challenging aspects of daily management. The anxiety of not knowing how certain foods might affect glucose levels has long been a pain point, particularly when dining out or trying unfamiliar dishes.
“That’s why Abbott built Libre Assist – a free, and advanced predictive tool that delivers personalized meal guidance and works with our leading Libre technology to deliver real-time glucose insights,” explained Marc Taub, vice president of technical operations for Abbott’s diabetes care business. “For the first time, people have smart, in-the-moment support right at their fingertips to make a confident choice every time they eat.”
The launch comes as Abbott celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring technology, which has gained full or partial reimbursement in more than 40 countries worldwide.
Traditional food logging apps have long offered feedback after meals are consumed — essentially closing the barn door after the horse has bolted. Libre Assist flips this paradigm, offering help in-the-moment to inform decisions before they’re made.
With diabetes affecting millions globally and dietary management remaining one of the condition’s most persistent challenges, tools that simplify decision-making without adding cost barriers could represent a significant step forward. The question now is whether predictive AI can truly deliver on its promise to make diabetes management less burdensome — one meal at a time.
