Health tracking: Fitbit users complain about Google Health AI food logs as Abbott wins clearance for dual glucose-ketone monitor

According to TechRadar, a Fitbit user posting on Reddit described Google Health's food logging as "so inaccurate it's almost dangerous." The user said the artificial intelligence drastically overestimated the calories in a serving of eggs while underreporting the caloric content of Greek yogurt. "On what planet is this level of deviation acceptable for a health product?" they asked, adding that the food database is full of incorrect nutrition facts. Other Reddit users in the thread echoed the complaint, with one calling it "a neverending fight" because the AI often omits foods when asked, then logs them inaccurately. Another user said they had spent months trying to give the Google tool the benefit of the doubt, but the hassle of getting nutrition right in the app finally made them quit; the tool also randomly changed their workouts and imported data from other systems. "I've honestly never been more disappointed in a Google product in my life," that user wrote.

These complaints follow earlier reports in TechRadar that Google Health's AI gave users "unhinged" fitness advice, told "nonstop lies" about workout sessions, and was widely described as "unbelievably bad." Google has appeared to acknowledge the problems by adding an option to hide the AI tool completely. TechRadar noted that while inaccurate entries for eggs or yogurt might simply produce distorted daily metrics, the impact could be greater for people with specific dietary needs or allergies, and it advised users to treat the AI with skepticism until the issues are fixed.

In a separate development covered by The Verge, Abbott's Libre Duo, a two-in-one continuous glucose monitor that measures both glucose and ketone levels, received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance last week. Mark Taub, vice president of technical operations for Abbott's diabetes care business, told The Verge that diabetic ketoacidosis is the most common hyperglycemic emergency for people with diabetes and a leading cause of hospitalization, yet its symptoms are easily missed because they resemble flu or infection. The sensor measures beta-hydroxybutyrate, a type of ketone, and is intended to alert users when glucose or ketone levels move outside their target ranges. It can be worn for 10 days, uses the same app as Abbott's existing monitors, works with smartwatches, and lets caregivers monitor a patient's glucose and ketone levels.

Dr. David Ahn, chief of diabetes at the Mary and Dick Allen Diabetes Center at Hoag Hospital, told The Verge that ketone monitoring is more routinely taught for children with diabetes but is often not a top priority for adults. He said the doubled capabilities could be especially useful for insulin-pump users, who face an elevated risk for ketoacidosis if pump problems interrupt insulin delivery, and for patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors. The Verge reported that the new sensor adds another layer of data to continuous glucose monitoring and raises the question of whether such technology can avoid the hype cycle that often surrounds wearable health devices.