Company unveils first-ever FDA-cleared, OTC glucose monitoring system for weight management

Palo Alto, California-based Signos has pulled off something no one else has before: it's rolled out the first FDA-cleared, over-the-counter glucose monitoring system specifically for weight management. At a time when waistlines and health charts are heading in the wrong direction, this launch feels less like a product drop and more like a turning point. As Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, CEO and founder of Signos, put it, "This is more than a product launch — it's a mission."

The mission? To hand people back the keys to their own metabolism. And in a country where nearly three-quarters of adults are overweight and metabolic illness is the silent backdrop of everyday life, that's no small feat.

How does it work?

At the heart of the system is a collaboration: Stelo, a glucose biosensor from Dexcom, married to Signos's AI-powered platform. Together, they act like a translator for your body's signals. Eat a bagel, take a walk, stress about work, or lose sleep — the system shows, in real time, how your blood sugar responds.

• The biosensor captures glucose levels around the clock.
• The AI platform turns those numbers into personalized recommendations.
• Instead of cold data, users get everyday guidance — when to eat, how to move, when to rest.

The idea is simple: see your body's reactions, then act on them. No prescription, no middleman, no cryptic charts to interpret. Just actionable insights you can hold in your hand, right from your smartphone.

Why does it matter?

Numbers tell a sobering story:

• 73.6% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.
• 88% are metabolically unhealthy.
• By 2050, global diabetes diagnoses are projected to hit 1.3 billion.

Signos argues that waiting until people get sick is too late. Instead, why not give individuals the tools to course-correct early? Actress and advisor Raven-Symoné underscored that point with candor: "I've been using Signos for years now and no matter my mental ups and downs it is there to keep me in reality. The reality is things change, levels change, but if you keep an eye on the overall picture you can keep your health in the green."

It's not about restriction or punishment. It's about seeing — and finally understanding — how your body reacts, then making small shifts that add up to real change.

The context

The launch lands in the middle of a storm. The U.S. is struggling with obesity, chronic disease, and a healthcare system stretched thin. The weight-loss industry is booming with new drugs, but access is spotty and costs are sky-high. For many, those solutions feel out of reach.

Signos is betting big that people are ready for something different: empowerment through knowledge, not prescriptions. "Everyone deserves access to insights that help them live healthier, longer, more vibrant lives," Fouladgar-Mercer said. That promise — that individuals, not institutions, can steer their own health journeys — is what makes this launch more than another gadget on the shelf.

For now, the Signos app and biosensor are widely available, ready to slip into pockets and lives. And if the company has its way, it won't just track numbers — it'll spark what it calls a "metabolic movement," giving millions the chance to reclaim their health on their own terms.