Oura adds AI-powered glucose tracking and meal logging

Oura Reinforces Its Commitment to Metabolic Health with Two Exciting New Features

Oura is stepping up its game in the world of metabolic health with two cutting-edge, AI-driven features: glucose tracking and meal logging. The glucose-tracking feature follows closely on the heels of their strategic alliance with Dexcom, which recently launched its over-the-counter Stelo continuous glucose monitor (CGM). On the other hand, meal logging marks the third experimental offering from Oura Labs’ beta program.

To access the Glucose feature, Oura users must purchase a Dexcom Stelo CGM, priced at $99 and available directly from Oura’s website. Once connected, users with both an Oura Ring and Stelo can view their glucose data within the Oura app, alongside other metrics such as stress levels, activity, and tags. They’ll also receive AI-generated summaries highlighting their daily glucose trends. A newly introduced metric, “time above range,” informs users how long their glucose levels remain above the optimal 70-140 mg/dL threshold.

GIF: Oura

Since the Glucose feature necessitates a Dexcom Stelo (and thus regulatory approval), Oura has stated that the feature will initially launch in the U.S., although it is FSA/HSA eligible.

In contrast, the Meals feature leverages Oura Advisor, the company’s chatbot powered by generative AI. This bot examines a user’s long-term data and trends while providing answers to general health inquiries. To utilize this feature, users snap photos of their meals. Oura Advisor then evaluates the food and provides an estimate of its macronutrient composition and nutritional worth. Upon request, it can suggest ways to craft more satisfying meals and deliver “non-judgmental” feedback aligned with users’ health goals. Those utilizing both the Meals and Glucose features will gain access to another metric called “meal level time above range,” which tracks how long glucose levels rise post-meal.

Oura’s shift toward metabolic health isn’t surprising. Although it hasn’t yet become a primary focus for smartwatches, metabolic health represents the next big step for smart rings. Given their popularity among athletes and health-conscious individuals, companies like Ultrahuman already offer CGMs, enabling users to correlate their broader health data with glucose levels. Similarly, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Ring with an experimental AGEs Index metric, claiming it reveals metabolic aging. Oura has also been exploring glucose tracking for quite some time. Prior to partnering with Dexcom, Oura acquired Veri, a CGM startup allowing users to monitor glucose and meals simultaneously.