Oura’s New Glucose and Meals Features
The Glucose feature on the Oura Ring requires users to purchase a Dexcom Stelo CGM, which is priced at $99 and can be bought directly from Oura’s website. After connecting the two devices, users can view their glucose levels alongside other health metrics like stress and movement in the Oura app. Additionally, the app will provide AI-generated summaries of daily glucose trends. A new metric, “time above range,” has also been introduced, indicating how long glucose levels exceed the ideal range of 70-140 mg/dL.
As the Glucose feature is contingent on the Dexcom Stelo, which has regulatory approval, Oura has indicated that it will initially be available only in the United States. It’s worth noting that this feature is eligible for FSA and HSA reimbursement.
On another note, the Meals feature taps into the Oura Advisor chatbot, which employs generative AI to examine a user’s long-term data and provide health-related guidance. This feature works by allowing users to take photos of their meals, after which the Oura Advisor analyzes the content and estimates its macronutrients and nutritional value. Users can receive feedback on how to create more filling meals and get what Oura calls “non-judgmental insights” tailored to their health goals. Those using the Meals and Glucose features together will gain access to another metric known as “meal level time above range,” which tracks how long glucose levels remain elevated post-meal.
This shift towards metabolic health isn’t entirely unexpected for Oura. Although it hasn’t been a primary focus for smartwatches, metabolic health appears to be a growing area for smart rings, particularly appealing to athletes and health-conscious users. For example, competitor Ultrahuman offers a CGM purchase option that integrates with overall health data and glucose tracking. Samsung has also diversified its offerings with the Galaxy Ring, introducing an experimental AGEs Index metric aimed at showcasing users’ metabolic aging. Oura has been exploring glucose tracking for a while, having recently acquired Veri, a startup specializing in glucose and meal tracking before partnering with Dexcom.
