Ottai said its continuous glucose monitoring system has passed 1 million users worldwide, calling the figure a milestone in its international expansion.
The announcement comes as demand for continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM, rises alongside global diabetes rates and a shift away from finger-prick testing. The market has grown quickly as patients and clinicians increasingly favour real-time glucose data, though device costs remain a barrier in many countries.
Ottai has positioned itself on lower pricing in a sector dominated by established medical technology groups. It said its product has gained traction by offering clinical accuracy and app-based tools at a lower cost than many traditional CGM systems.
According to the company, the system has a Mean Absolute Relative Difference, or MARD, of 8.1% in adults, a commonly used measure of CGM accuracy. The sensor also has a short warm-up period and is designed to be worn for 14 to 15 days before replacement.
Alongside the sensor, Ottai offers a mobile app that shows glucose trends, sends high and low glucose alerts, and produces longer-term reports. Users can also record meals, insulin doses, exercise, sleep, and stress, while smartwatch connectivity allows on-wrist viewing.
Those features reflect a wider trend in diabetes technology, as device makers try to link monitoring more closely to daily behaviour. By connecting glucose changes to meals or exercise, CGM systems aim to help users understand patterns that periodic blood tests alone may miss.
Global push
From its base in China, Ottai has expanded into several overseas markets, including Malaysia and Australia. It said lower pricing had already disrupted the local Chinese CGM market before that international push.
That expansion has taken place against a backdrop of widening access gaps in diabetes care. While CGM use has increased in wealthier healthcare systems, uptake in emerging markets has often lagged because patients pay out of pocket or face limited reimbursement.
Industry attention has focused on whether lower-cost suppliers can widen access without sacrificing accuracy. More broadly, the sector is watching whether affordable systems can move CGM from a specialist tool for some insulin users towards more routine use across a larger diabetes population.
Ottai cited survey results showing that 95% of respondents rated its app as the most user-friendly CGM interface they had experienced. It also said many users had switched from other CGM brands in search of clearer information about diet and exercise and better customer support.
People with diabetes are increasingly looking for systems that reduce the burden of management rather than simply provide data. For many users, that means fewer finger pricks, easier-to-read displays, and alerts that can be tailored without adding complexity.
Market pressure
Ottai is entering a market where competition has intensified as more manufacturers target the same mix of affordability, ease of use, and clinical performance. Established producers still hold strong positions in many countries, but lower-cost entrants are putting pressure on pricing and broadening the range of available products.
Healthcare systems are also paying closer attention to the economics of glucose monitoring. Better tracking can help reduce complications linked to poor glucose control, but adoption at scale depends on whether devices are affordable for patients, insurers, and public health providers.
Ottai said its technology combines biosensing with deep learning algorithms to provide personalised insight into glucose responses. The company said this can help users see how meals, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors affect their readings over time.
One continuing theme in diabetes care is the growing emphasis on time in range, a measure of how long glucose levels stay within target thresholds. CGM systems have helped bring that measure into wider use because they provide a continuous stream of readings instead of isolated snapshots.
For people managing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, that fuller picture can reveal swings that standard self-monitoring may miss. It can also help clinicians adjust treatment plans with a more complete record of what happens between appointments.
“Our achievement of reaching 1 million users globally is a powerful validation of our mission,” said Yuwei Qiu, chief operating officer of Ottai. “We set out to break down the barriers that prevent many people from benefiting from CGM technology. Ottai CGM empowers users with accurate, real-time insights and intuitive tools that make it easier to understand how food, exercise, and daily habits affect their glucose levels. We are committed to expanding into even more countries in the coming year, helping millions more access affordable, high-quality diabetes management solutions.”
In a separate statement, the company described the milestone as part of a broader long-term goal. “Reaching 1 million users is not the finish line – it’s an important stepping stone,” the team said. “We remain dedicated to innovation, affordability, and user empowerment. Our vision is a world where high-quality CGM is not a luxury but a standard tool for anyone managing diabetes, enabling healthier, more confident lives.”
