Managing wellness in real time: The rise of discreet glucose monitoring

If you’re among the millions of Australians currently living with diabetes or a prediabetic condition, knowing how your everyday choices impact your glucose levels isn’t just useful, it’s invaluable. After all, the more insight you have on how your lifestyle habits affect your body, the more confidence and clarity you’ll have when it comes to managing your health.

However, while continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) make it easy to track your levels, the cost of these devices can be prohibitive, particularly for those not eligible for government subsidies. This cost-barrier has left many individuals reliant on traditional technology, such as invasive, data-limited finger-prick tests.

Until now. Backed by more than six years of dedicated research and development in biosensing technology, Ottai has released a more affordable Continuous Glucose Monitoring System, giving Australians greater choice. Since its launch in 2025, more than one million users have adopted the Ottai CGM.

“The Ottai CGM is a small, coin-sized biosensor worn on the back of your upper arm that automatically measures your glucose levels day and night,” explains Wayne Wong, chief operating officer at Ottai.

“After 14 full days of wear, plus a 24-hour grace period, you simply peel it off and apply a new one. It fits into life, not the other way around.”

Data at a glance

Lightweight, waterproof and designed to stay in place for two weeks, the Ottai CGM sends glucose readings to an AI-powered companion app every five minutes built on advanced deep-learning algorithms. There’s no bulky receiver, so checking your levels is as simple as looking at your smartwatch or phone.

“That real-time visibility changes everything,” Wang says. “You’re not just getting a number; you’re seeing where your glucose is headed with trend arrows that show whether you’re rising, falling or holding steady.”

Users can also log food and exercise via the app, which allows you to see how your glucose levels respond after meals, certain foods and activities. Combined with advice from healthcare professionals, this information allows you to fine-tune your lifestyle for better glucose control, improved exercise performance and overall wellbeing.

“Many users discover surprising responses, such as certain ‘healthy’ foods that cause unexpected rises, and build sustainable habits for consistent energy and better glucose control,” explains Wang.

When it comes to exercise, real-time alerts let you know if your glucose dips or spikes during or after a workout, which means you can adjust on the spot. “Understanding your unique patterns empowers you to move in ways that work with your body, not against it,” Wang adds.

Designed with discretion in mind, the Ottai CGM was made to be as unobtrusive as possible, so once it’s on, you’ll barely notice it’s there. “You can shower, sleep and exercise all while the CGM works quietly in the background,” Wang says.

“The result is a complete, 24/7 picture of your glucose without the hassle or pain. That’s the difference – instead of poking holes in your day, you get insight that actually helps you stay in control, with fewer surprises and more confidence in your daily decisions.”

Ahead of the curve

The Ottai CGM encourages users to be proactive with their health, and that includes sharing valuable data with healthcare providers. “Ottai generates comprehensive AGP reports and Time-In-Range summaries that clinicians can interpret at a glance,” he explains.

“The data-export feature allows users to share specific time periods with their healthcare team,” he adds. “This shifts the conversation from ‘What have your numbers been?’ to ‘Let’s look at these patterns together and problem-solve.’”

As well as sharing glucose insights with health professionals, says you can also share data with family members to round out your support network and better coordinate your care.

Thanks to Ottai’s customisable high and low alerts, you’ll be notified when your glucose is trending towards a dangerous level, not just when it gets there, so you can address changes before they cause an issue. Detailed 14-day reports also make it easier to notice patterns, which says is a powerful tool.

“You can connect the dots between what you ate, how you moved and how your body responded,” he explains. “Spotting those trends means you can actually do something with the information: adjust a habit, celebrate progress or walk into your next doctor’s appointment with a professional-grade report already in hand. It takes the guesswork out and puts the insights front and centre.”

Developed in-house by a global multidisciplinary team, Ottai is a continuous glucose monitoring system that provides real-time glucose insights without traditional finger-prick testing. Visit ottai.com to learn more.

*The information in this article should not be construed as medical advice. Please always consult a medical professional for advice specific to you. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. Ottai CGM is included in the ARTG (ID: 499710).