Beyond sugar: Why this breakthrough diabetes tech matters

Abbott has received FDA authorisation for Libre Duo 10 Day, a single sensor that continuously tracks glucose and ketones. The device could give people with diabetes earlier warning of rising ketones before diabetic ketoacidosis develops.The next big shift in diabetes technology may be about looking beyond blood sugar. Global healthcare giant Abbott has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorisation for Libre Duo 10 Day, described as the world’s first wearable technology to continuously monitor both glucose and ketones through a single sensor.The device is designed to monitor glucose for day-to-day diabetes management while also detecting rising ketone levels that can precede diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially life-threatening complication.Though most common in people with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disorder that typically starts at a young age, DKA can also develop in people with type 2 diabetes, a condition often linked with diet, lifestyle and insulin resistance, which is far more prevalent.The significance of the approval for the new device lies in the fact that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has transformed how people track diabetes – but CGMs have traditionally measured glucose alone. Ketones – another important marker of what is happening inside the body, have generally required separate blood or urine tests, usually taken when glucose is high, during illness or when symptoms raise concern.Abbott says the new system is designed to monitor ketones in the background and alert users when levels rise. For people with diabetes, particularly those at higher risk of DKA, that could mean an important change: instead of checking ketones only when something feels wrong, they could potentially receive an earlier warning that the body is moving towards a dangerous metabolic state.WHY KETONES MATTERGlucose is the fuel the body normally uses for energy. When there is not enough effective insulin, however, the body begins breaking down fat for energy. This produces ketones. If ketones accumulate rapidly, they can make the blood acidic and lead to DKA.DKA can develop within hours and can progress to coma or death if untreated. Abbott notes that it is the most common hyperglycaemic emergency among people with diabetes and that hospital admissions for DKA have risen substantially over the past decade. Importantly, ketones can sometimes rise even when glucose does not appear dramatically elevated.This means glucose readings alone may not always provide an early warning of impending DKA.That is where continuous ketone monitoring could fill a major gap.At present, ketone testing is usually episodic. A blood or urine test gives a snapshot of the ketone level at that particular moment. A continuously monitoring sensor, by contrast, can follow the direction of change – whether ketones are stable, rising or falling – and potentially alert a person before the situation becomes an emergency.Veteran diabetologist Dr Shashank Joshi described the development on X as a major advance. The unique feature of the device, he wrote, could “give people with diabetes an earlier warning and more time to take action before rising ketones become life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).”Calling it a “huge step forward in diabetes technology”, Dr Joshi also noted that the sensor is authorised for people with diabetes aged two years and above.DIABETES BURDEN & ITS CONNECTION WITH TECHThe development comes against the backdrop of an enormous diabetes burden globally.India, which has one of the world's largest diabetes populations with 10.1 crore people with the condition, while another 13,6 crore have prediabetes, a precursor to the disease.This burden has also created a growing demand for technology that allows people to understand their glucose patterns beyond occasional finger-prick measurements.CGMs have increasingly entered diabetes care in India. Abbott introduced its FreeStyle Libre system in the country in 2020, providing real-time glucose information without routine fingerstick, and has since expanded its portfolio.According to the firm, its latest-generation Libre 2 Plus was launched in India in 2025 and provides automatic glucose readings every minute with optional alarms.The growing adoption of CGMs reflects a broader change in diabetes management: from simply asking whether glucose is high or low to understanding patterns, trends and “time in range”.Indian studies are also increasingly examining CGM-derived data in people with diabetes, reflecting the technology's growing role in clinical practice.The dual sensor could take this concept a step further by adding another layer of metabolic information, specialists are hoping.- EndsPublished On: Aug 26, 2026 15:01 IST