Oct 16 (Reuters) - Abbott Laboratories ( ABT ) slightly

lifted its annual profit forecast on Wednesday, after beating

Wall Street estimates for quarterly earnings on strong demand

for its glucose-monitoring products and other medical devices.

Sales of continuous glucose monitors such as Abbott's

FreeStyle Libre and rivals from DexCom ( DXCM ) have been lifted

by increasing diabetes care awareness, wider insurance coverage

and preference for devices that do not need finger pricks.

Abbott's medical devices unit generated $4.75 billion in

sales for the third quarter, higher than analysts' average

estimate of $4.68 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Sales of continuous glucose monitors, including its biggest

product FreeStyle Libre and newly launched over-the-counter

device Lingo, were $1.6 billion, up nearly 21% from last year.

The company now expects a full-year profit of $4.64 to $4.70

per share, with the midpoint a tad higher than that of its

earlier forecast of $4.61 to $4.71 per share.

On an adjusted basis, the company's quarterly profit of

$1.21 per share beat estimates of $1.20 per share.