Company chief Anne Wojcicki didn’t have definitive explanations for the shrinking sales in a chat with CNBC, but did speculate that privacy was “top of mind” for customers and might have been a factor. Cold cases like the Golden State Killer appear to have been solved using online DNA databases — there might be a fear of sensitive genetic info falling into the wrong hands. Wojcicki also suspected that fear of a US recession might lead people to cut back on unnecessary expenses, and a home DNA test could easily be one of the first things to go.

The company isn’t the only one facing trouble. Veritas Genetics closed its US business in late 2019, while Illuminia warned that the entire market was down last summer after witnessing a drop in demand for its DNA sequencing machines. In that regard, 23andMe is acknowledging the reality that DNA testing isn’t as hot a market as it was in previous years.

The company is partnering with Lark Health to offer the company’s $20 per month AI health coaching service to customers who are at risk of developing diabetes. The report will be available to gene testing kit buyers starting March 11th, 23andMe said.

Whether or not it helps is another story. Experts talking to MIT Technology Review noted that polygenic scoring methods aren’t extremely accurate at this stage, even though they’ve improved considerably since 23andMe dropped many of its health tests in 2013. While the company says its diabetes test is accurate for black, Asian and Latino customers, polygenic score predictions have historically produced worse results for non-Europeans.

There’s also the nature of diabetes itself. There’s no singular, guaranteed genetic signal that you’re at risk, and those external factors like diet and lifestyle can make a large difference. If you already eat well and stay fit, the test won’t change much. Still, this is a rare opportunity to gauge your susceptibility to diabetes at home. If nothing else, it could encourage you to visit the doctor.