Dexcom and Oura Ring’s $75 Million Partnership Explained

In a groundbreaking move, Dexcom, a leader in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology, invested $75 million into the Series D funding round for Oura, the Finnish company known for its Oura smart ring. This partnership combines the strengths of two innovative health tech companies—Dexcom’s expertise in glucose monitoring and Oura’s advanced wearable technology for sleep, activity, stress and overall wellness. 

Oura is now valued at $5 billion—the implications of this collaboration could reshape how we track and manage health and introduce glucose monitoring to a wider user-base. Let’s dive into what this partnership could represent and the future of non-invasive CGM tech.

Why are these companies partnering?

You might be wondering why Dexcom, a CGM company, is teaming up with Oura, a fitness and lifestyle tracker. The goal is to integrate Dexcom’s glucose data with Oura’s suite of biometrics, such as sleep, heart rate, activity, and stress levels, to provide deeper insights into metabolic health. This partnership isn’t just about adding glucose readings to the Oura Ring’s ecosystem; it’s about leveraging data from multiple factors to optimize health, particularly as it relates to glucose trends.

With the increasing popularity of wearables and a push toward non-invasive glucose monitoring tech, this partnership could open the door to a future where glucose tracking becomes more seamless and accessible. While companies like Apple and Samsung are rumored to be working on non-invasive glucose tracking, this collaboration could give Dexcom and Oura a competitive upper-hand, or finger, in the race to the finish line.

@diabe_tech

Dexcom has teamed up with Oura to bring its continuous glucose monitoring to the Oura Smart Ring. #tech #wearables #oura #cgm #dexcom #t1d

Dexcom is a pioneer in the CGM space

Dexcom’s glucose monitors have evolved a fair amount since the San Diego company’s formation in 1999. Its wearable sensors provide real-time glucose readings every five minutes via a smartphone app, receiver, or insulin pump. Many users sync glucose readings with their insulin pumps to automate insulin delivery to treat diabetes. Dexcom is currently on its seventh generation of CGM, Dexcom G7, which is used by millions of people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The company recently launched its Stelo CGM, an over-the-counter device designed for individuals with Prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes looking to track their glucose trends.

Dexcom sensors measure glucose via interstitial fluid (not directly from the blood), and while readings lag behind by about 10-15 minutes, they provide essential data that helps users visualize how foods and insulin treatment affect them. Integrating this data with other health metrics—like sleep, exercise, and stress—could give a much fuller picture of a person’s blood sugar management. Having this data could prove useful in quarterly endocrinology visits that often look at data one-dimensionally. Rather than simply adjusting basal rates and insulin to carb ratios, people with diabetes would now have lifestyle data to help improve overall management.

Oura Ring packs 15+ sensors in its tiny form factor

Oura has made waves with its stylish, high-tech ring, which tracks biometrics such as heart rate, body temperature, sleep, blood oxygen levels, and movement. Since its launch in 2016, Oura has sold over 2.5 million rings, with the latest generation providing even deeper insights into users’ sleep, readiness, and stress levels.

The Oura Ring’s data is gathered through advanced sensors: infrared sensors for heart rate, a body temperature sensor, and an accelerometer for movement tracking. With these metrics, Oura can generate scores for sleep, activity, and stress, which are helpful for optimizing overall health. Recently, Oura introduced a feature called “Meals,” where users can log their meals and assess how they impact their body. This addition could pair seamlessly with Dexcom CGM data to understand the impact of food on glucose trends.

42 factors affect glucose levels – Oura can track many of them

So, what happens when you combine Dexcom’s glucose monitoring with Oura’s data? The potential is limitless. There are over 42 known factors that can influence glucose levels, including sleep quality, exercise, alcohol, and even stress. By analyzing how these factors correlate with glucose fluctuations, users could make better decisions about their diet, exercise routines, and overall lifestyle.

For people with diabetes, seeing glucose data alongside other biometrics could provide valuable insights into trends and triggers. For instance, how does a bad night’s sleep affect glucose? Or how does intense exercise impact blood sugar levels? While the Oura Ring doesn’t currently track glucose, its features are already well-suited to complement CGM data.

I’ve been testing the Oura Ring alongside my Dexcom G7 CGM, and I’ve already started noticing some interesting patterns. My glucose levels tend to rise and fall in sync with my Oura data—heart rate and stress seem to play a role in my glucose trends. This early observation only scratches the surface of what could be a game-changing integration for people managing diabetes. I’ve got a lot more testing to do and will report back here and on Youtube—so make sure to subscribe!

Dexcom and Oura could be working on non-invasive glucose monitoring

While Dexcom’s technology and all current CGMs are invasive, I can’t help but wonder if Dexcom’s whopping $75 million investment is geared toward a future of non-invasive glucose monitoring. It would only make sense, as several companies, including KnowLabs, Apple, and Samsung, are working on ways to measure glucose without breaking the skin. When there is competition, there is innovation…and investment!

@diabe_tech

Samsung is working on non-invasive continuous glucose monitor tech. A Samsung exec says the CGM tech should arrive in thr next 5 years. ... See more

Apple and Samsung are rumored to be working on non-invasive glucose technology for their devices, such as the Apple Watch and Samsung Gear. Reports on Apple’s progress point to challenges in miniaturization, and overheating, all of which need to be solved before these devices can be used by consumers. 

Oura and Dexcom data integration is coming in early 2025

The two companies have announced plans for a fast integration of their technologies—by the first half of 2025. The partnership will likely focus on integrating Dexcom’s Stelo with the Oura Ring app, as the Stelo is already designed for over-the-counter use. However, I’m hopeful that they’ll integrate glucose data across all Dexcom CGMs, like the Dexcom G7 and Dexcom One+, to help the people who, in my opinion, need this data most—people with diabetes who use insulin. Managing glucose levels with insulin can be extremely difficult, and access to these enhanced data sets could help us get ahead of activities that affect our levels.

Dexcom already directly integrates its CGMs with devices like the Apple Watch and Garmin, so I see no reason it couldn’t extend integration to the Oura Ring. I don’t think the FDA needed to get involved for these integrations, so why wouldn’t Dexcom allow for integration for its entire catalog of CGMs? 

Stay tuned for more updates on my experience wearing Oura Ring and this partnership on my Tik Tok, Instagram, Youtube and podcast.  

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