The Digital Health Podcast with Fexingo: Wearables, Diagnostics, and Health Software

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the quiet shift of digital therapeutics from wellness apps to FDA-cleared, prescription-only treatments. They focus on the rise of prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) — software that treats conditions like chronic insomnia, ADHD, and substance use disorder — and how they're now covered by insurers and even Medicare. The hosts discuss the business model behind these products, the regulatory pathway, and the challenges of convincing doctors to prescribe an app. They also look at the numbers: how a digital therapeutic for insomnia achieved clinical trial results comparable to leading sleep medications, and how the market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 20 percent. With specific examples like a digital therapeutic for opioid use disorder that gained FDA approval in 2025, the episode gives listeners a clear picture of this emerging category and what it means for patients and investors.

#DigitalTherapeutics #PrescriptionApps #FDAApproval #HealthTech #SleepTherapy #OpioidUseDisorder #ClinicalTrials #HealthInsurance #MedicareCoverage #MedicalSoftware #HealthcareBusiness #TechRegulation #DigitalHealthMarket #ChronicInsomnia #ADHDTreatment #SubstanceUseTreatment #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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Pulse oximeters have been a staple of hospital care for decades, but consumer wearables are now pushing the technology to new limits. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how sensor fusion, machine learning, and new optical designs are making pulse oximetry more accurate in people with darker skin tones, a known weakness of traditional devices. They look at a landmark 2025 study that showed a 30 percent reduction in measurement bias, the role of multi-wavelength sensors, and what this means for the future of at-home monitoring. The conversation also covers the regulatory landscape, including the FDA's updated guidance on pulse oximeter accuracy, and why this matters for the estimated 30 million Americans who use consumer wearables for health tracking. If you've ever wondered why your smartwatch's blood oxygen reading might not match your doctor's, this episode breaks down the science and the business behind the fix.

#PulseOximetry #Wearables #HealthTech #BiomedicalEngineering #MachineLearning #SensorFusion #FDA #ClinicalAccuracy #HealthEquity #DiversityInTech #ConsumerWearables #DigitalHealth #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #HealthPodcast #Innovation

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Continuous glucose monitors, once the domain of diabetes care, are now being strapped to elite athletes and weekend warriors alike. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how real-time glucose data is reshaping sports nutrition, fueling debates about fueling strategies, and turning 'eat to train' into 'train to eat'. With a focus on the 2024 Tour de France and the rise of wearable CGM in endurance sports, they break down the science, the hype, and the practical takeaways for anyone curious about metabolic health.

#ContinuousGlucoseMonitor #SportsNutrition #WearableTech #MetabolicHealth #EnduranceSports #TourDeFrance #Cycling #AthleteTech #GlucoseMonitoring #NutritionScience #DigitalHealth #HealthTech #Fitness #DataDrivenAthlete #BloodSugar #Wearables #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode of The Digital Health Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the evolving landscape of FDA regulation for digital health apps. With the FDA's 2026 guidance on software as a medical device, we explore how companies like Apple and AliveCor are navigating the fine line between wellness and medical claims. We break down the recent decision on over-the-counter continuous glucose monitors, the new Breakthrough Devices Program for digital therapeutics, and what the European MDR means for US startups going global. Discover why some health apps are choosing to stay unregulated, the rise of algorithmic transparency requirements, and how AI-driven diagnostic tools are being held to new standards. Whether you're a builder or a healthcare professional, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at the regulatory road ahead. Plus, we briefly discuss why our show stays ad-free and how listener support keeps it that way.

#DigitalHealth #FDARegulation #HealthTech #Business #Technology #MedicalDevices #AIinHealthcare #SoftwareAsAMedicalDevice #ContinuousGlucoseMonitors #DigitalTherapeutics #AliveCor #AppleHealth #HealthcareCompliance #HealthInnovation #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #HealthPodcast #RegulatoryScience

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In this episode of The Digital Health Podcast, hosts Lucas and Luna explore the quiet revolution of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) beyond diabetes. Once reserved for Type 1 patients, CGMs are now worn by athletes, biohackers, and the health-conscious, with companies like Dexcom and Abbott expanding into consumer markets. They discuss the science behind the sensors, the shift from finger pricks to real-time data, and the emerging debate over whether everyone needs to track their glucose. With a focus on the business angle, they look at how these devices are becoming a mainstream health tool and what that means for the future of preventive care. The conversation also touches on data privacy and the potential for CGMs to democratize metabolic health insights.

#ContinuousGlucoseMonitors #CGMs #DiabetesCare #Wearables #HealthTech #Dexcom #Abbott #GlucoseMonitoring #MetabolicHealth #PreventiveHealth #DigitalHealth #HealthInnovation #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #HealthData #MedicalDevices

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how digital health is finally moving from treating sickness to preventing it. They trace the shift from reactive care to proactive monitoring, spotlighting the rise of continuous glucose monitors, smartwatches that flag early warning signs, and the growing market for preventive health platforms. The conversation anchors on a striking figure: consumer health spending on prevention is projected to hit $250 billion by 2027, a number that signals a real business inflection. Along the way, they discuss why doctors are warming to these tools, the regulatory hurdles that remain, and how startups like Levels and Oura are reshaping what patients expect from their own data. They close with a reflection on the ethical tightrope of preventive tech: who gets access, and who gets left behind. If you're building or running something in health tech, this episode gives you a clear-eyed look at where the market is heading and why prevention is becoming the next big business.

#DigitalHealth #PreventiveHealth #Wearables #HealthTech #ContinuousGlucoseMonitors #Smartwatches #HealthData #Business #Technology #Startups #Levels #Oura #HealthCare #PatientMonitoring #Regulation #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #HealthInnovation

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Heart rate variability is one of the most talked-about metrics in wearable health, but what does it really tell you? In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the science behind HRV, why it's a powerful indicator of stress and recovery, and how a simple nightly reading could help you spot illness days before symptoms appear. They break down the key numbers—like the 50-millisecond difference that might matter—and explain why your smartwatch's HRV data is more reliable than you think, especially when used consistently over time. The conversation also covers how elite athletes use HRV to fine-tune training and why that same data might soon inform your doctor's decisions. If you've ever stared at your watch's HRV number and wondered what to do with it, this episode gives you a practical framework for making sense of your own data. Plus, a quick note on why supporting the show matters. Tune in for a clear, grounded look at the quiet revolution happening on your wrist.

#HeartRateVariability #WearableHealth #HRV #Smartwatch #Recovery #Stress #HealthTech #DigitalHealth #Business #Technology #FitnessTracking #Wellness #OuraRing #Whoop #AppleWatch #Garmin #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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Continuous glucose monitors were once a niche tool for people with type 1 diabetes, but now they're becoming everyday health wearables for fitness enthusiasts, biohackers, and even the general public. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how CGMs have evolved from medical devices to consumer wellness products, what they can actually tell you about your metabolism, and why companies like Abbott and Dexcom are betting big on this shift. They dig into the research on whether glucose tracking really leads to better health outcomes, the controversy over 'normal' blood sugar ranges, and the challenges of turning a flood of personal health data into actionable advice. If you've ever wondered whether a CGM is worth the hype or the cost, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at the technology and its potential impact on how we think about food, exercise, and preventive health.

#ContinuousGlucoseMonitors #CGM #HealthTech #Wearables #GlucoseMonitoring #MetabolicHealth #Abbott #Dexcom #Biohacking #PreventiveHealth #DigitalHealth #HealthData #InsulinResistance #Nutrition #FitnessTracking #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how consumer wearables like the Apple Watch and Oura Ring are quietly crossing from fitness tracking into clinical-grade monitoring. They dig into the FDA's new digital health framework, the rise of the over-the-counter ECG, and the story of a heart patient whose smartwatch caught a problem his annual physical missed. They also discuss the tricky economics of selling health features to consumers, and why one cardiologist now writes 'wearable data review' into her clinic's workflow. If you've ever wondered whether your wrist device is more than a step counter, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at the promise and the pitfalls.

#WearableTech #DigitalHealth #Smartwatch #ClinicalMonitoring #ECG #AppleWatch #OuraRing #FDA #HealthcareInnovation #Business #Technology #HealthData #Cardiology #ConsumerTech #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #HealthTech #HealthInnovation

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore a surprising new use for your smartwatch: detecting early signs of depression. They break down a 2025 study from the University of Pittsburgh that found wrist-worn sensors can predict depressive episodes by tracking sleep patterns, physical activity, and heart rate variability. Lucas explains how researchers used machine learning on data from over 3,000 participants to achieve 82 percent accuracy, and why the algorithm mostly relies on sleep quality and circadian consistency. They discuss the ethical implications of mood monitoring, the risk of false positives, and how this technology could change mental health care. If you've ever wondered whether your watch could know how you feel before you do, this episode gives you the facts, the limits, and a look at what might come next. No hype, just the science and the stakes.

#SmartwatchHealth #DepressionDetection #WearableTech #MentalHealth #DigitalHealth #MachineLearning #SleepTracking #HeartRateVariability #UniversityOfPittsburgh #ClinicalStudy #HealthTech #Wearables #MentalWellness #PredictiveHealth #TechAndHealth #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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