Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge is using a glucose sensor modeled after Abbott Laboratories’ FreeStyle Libre glucose monitor to optimize his training regimen.
The sensor, known as the Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, is the first device intended to help athletes track blood sugar rather than people with diabetes.
Kipchoge, who set a world record for a marathon at the 2018 Berlin Marathon, will wear the sensor at the upcoming NN Mission Marathon in the Netherlands, a qualifying race for the Tokyo Olympics. His fellow teammates on the NN Running Team will also wear the biosensor.
Kipchoge said in a statement that the glucose sensor has transformed how he trains. “I am learning how my glucose levels relate to my running performance and have already started to see how quickly small adjustments can make a big difference,” he explained.
Abbott launched the product in Europe last September.
Like other recent continuous glucose monitor (CGM) models, such as the latest FreeStyle Libre and the forthcoming Dexcom G7, the Abbott Libre Sense can collect up to 14 days of glucose data.
The NN Running Team athletes plan to use data from the device to finetune athletes’ carbohydrate loading before races.
The technology will also enable athletes to replenish glucose levels during events. “Abbott’s biosensor enables us to build personalized nutrition plans based on glucose data in order to deliver peak athletic performance and a competitive advantage,” said Valentijn Trouw, performance director of NN Running Team and Global Sports Communications, in a statement.
