How To Use The Apple Watch With A Continuous Blood Glucose Monitor
Because a continuous blood glucose monitor is a medical device, it is important to talk with your doctor about what it is you’re looking for. In some cases, you may need to get your doctor to prescribe the CGM, which means you may need to specifically request a prescription for a model that includes Apple Watch support. As well, you may need to make an appointment for the doctor to insert the product’s sensor so that it is able to continuously monitor your blood glucose levels. During the same appointment, your medical provider should provide training on how to use the device.
The exact process of setting up the continuous glucose monitor so that it delivers alerts to an Apple Watch will vary depending on the product. In the broadest sense, you’ll likely need to install the product’s companion app on your iPhone and adjust its settings so that you get the kinds of alerts you want, such as emergency alerts about dangerous blood sugar fluctuations. Because it is critical to set up the device properly, you should carefully read the instructions included with the product and get in touch with the manufacturer’s customer support team with any specific questions and for help setting up the system if necessary. The instructions used for setting up one product may not be applicable to a different product.
The Long Wait For Blood Glucose Monitoring
Im a diabetic with Type 2, though Im on the milder side of the spectrum, according to my doctor. It wasnt required for me, but I like to check my blood sugar levels throughout the day . However, when I was pregnant, I had to check my levels four to five times a day, after every meal and snack, to make sure that I didnt get gestational diabetes.
The most common method of checking blood glucose levels is to prick your finger todraw some blood, then use a proprietary test strip that only works with an equally proprietary glucose monitor to get your results. Let me tell you pricking my fingers multiple times a day, every day, was really annoying and stressful .
One of my biggest feature desires for the Apple Watch is noninvasive blood glucose monitoring.
I know that there are continuous glucose monitors out there, but the problem with those is I need to figure out if my insurance would cover it, and the idea of sticking a needle in my abdomen and having to wear that freaks me out.
The technology in GlucoCheck will shine a light across the human skin, and a camera captures the view from the other side. This kind of technology is similar to what we already have in the Apple Watch with the oxygen-level analysis sensor.
Which Apple Watch Should I Get To Monitor Diabetes
The first question Gillian brought to me is whether theres any drawbacks to her getting the Apple Watch SE over the Apple Watch Series 6. The Series 6 is the best smartwatch weve tested and an impressive health tool, but its outside of her budget. The Series 3 doesnt offer fall detection, which would help if irregular insulin levels caused Gillian to faint.
Compared to the Apple Watch 6, the Apple Watch SE lacks an electrocardiogram reader, blood oxygen monitoring and an always-on display. In my experience with the Series 6 so far, the always-on display is the real deal-breaker for an average user, but its less of a sell for Gillian. In fact, shed worry about the never-dark OLED screen on her wrist distracting her students.
Jake Green, another 23-year-old with type 1 diabetes, has owned the Apple Watch Series 4 since Dexcoms Apple Watch app debuted two years ago. He has no plans to upgrade to one of the newest smartwatch models despite the availability of new features.
For what I need, Im set with the Apple Watch 4, Green said. Its not like blood oxygen monitoring is important in terms of glucose monitoring. Having the Dexcom app on my wrist is what matters.
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Blood Sugar Monitoring Isn’t Coming Any Time Soon Either
According to the report, the new feature in the Apple Watch won’t give specific systolic and diastolic readings, unlike medical-grade blood pressure monitoring devices typically used by doctors. Instead, it would warn users if they are understood to have hypertension . The report also seemingly confirms rumors that Apple is also working on adding non-invasive blood sugar monitoring technology to the Apple Watch to help people with diabetes monitor their glucose levels. However, that feature is still “several years away” from materializing.
Despite the setback with the blood pressure monitoring system, Apple is reportedly working on many other new technologies for its next-gen Apple Watch. One of the new features is said to be a “body-temperature sensor” that will likely make its way to the Apple Watch Series 8 this year. However, it is being designed to help with fertility planning, which means it would not show actual readings. Finally, with watchOS 9, the Apple Watch’satrial fibrillation detection feature will also be able to calculate how often a person is in a state of atrial fibrillation over a certain period.
Apple Watch To Ditch Blood Pressure And Blood Sugar Sensors This Year Other Health Features Expected
We are expecting a new Apple Watch model to arrive later this year alongside the iPhone 14 series. Apple is planning to introduce a plethora of new features for the Apple Watch but it has recently been reported that the company has ditched the blood pressure and blood sugar sensors for this year. Scroll down to read more details on the subject.
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Can The Apple Watch Natively Monitor Blood Glucose
At the time of writing, the Apple Watch Series 8 and older are not able to monitor blood glucose levels on their own. This may change in the future, but at this time, you’ll need to use a separate glucose monitor that is able to communicate with the Apple Watch wirelessly. That doesn’t mean the Apple Watch isn’t worth owning, however, as the device packs many other health features and some of them have even saved lives.
Apple’s smartwatch is particularly useful for individuals who suffer from a heart rhythm disorder called Atrial Fibrillation , which increases one’s risk of experiencing a stroke, among other things. The Apple Watch uses a combination of hardware and software to monitor A-Fib episodes and record the data, which can then be given to the patient’s doctor as a long-term look at how the condition manifested over the recent past.
Depending on the Apple Watch model, users can also get alerts when their heart rate is unusually elevated, take ECG measurements, monitor their blood oxygen levels, send emergency alerts if they fall, and even get an alert if the wearable detects low cardio fitness metrics. You can check which features your Apple Watch offers over on Apple’s Healthcare web page.
How To Use An Apple Watch To Monitor Your Diabetes
On its own, an Apple Watch cant check your glucose levels you need to pair it with a continuous monitoring system such as Dexcom or FreeStyle Libre
You could also use a manual testing system such as One Drop . Whichever method you prefer, having a device like an Apple Watch, which can display your glucose readings, could be vital.
If youre trending up or down, or heading towards a change in blood sugar, you can get your rescue before you feel the symptoms, Emmi Petti, a nurse at Duke University Hospital and one of Gillians trusted resources for diabetes information, said. This is especially helpful in situations when you dont have immediate access to your phone like when youre working and driving.
Dexcom, Gillians glucose-monitoring system of choice, offers a dedicated Apple Watch app that pushes notifications from a users wireless insulin pump to their wrist via their smartphone. The Dexcom app also shows a users current glucose levels and general glucose trends at a glance. It even supports custom watch face complications for the utmost convenience.
With type 1 diabetes, you might need to know exactly what your glucose is doing at any given point, Dexcom CTO Jake Leach, who oversees the development of next generation glucose monitoring products, said. The value that continuous glucose monitoring brings is your current glucose level and how its changing so you can make adjustments accordingly.
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Commercial Players Are Also At It
This is not the first research of its kind. In July 2020, Samsung showcased a noninvasive method for blood glucose monitoring in partnership with experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology . The same year, Movano revealed a wearable device that can measure blood sugar levels using a light diffusion method. But it didnt do much else.
A year later, a Japanese company named Quantum Operation showcased a wearable-mounted sensor at CES 2021 that was capable of noninvasive blood glucose analysis. According to multiple reports that have surfaced over the past couple of years, both Apple and Samsung are interested in the promising tech for their smartwatches.
U.K.-based Rockley Photonics is also working toward the same objective, but instead of LEDs, the company is focused more on laser-based analysis. Regarding the in-house tech, CEO Dr. Andrew Rickman told Digital Trends that it collects incredibly rich data that we extract to measure, amongst other things, hydration, lactate, and blood pressure.
Notably, Apple is said to be one of the biggest clients of Rockley Photonics and is rumored to include the noninvasive blood glucose monitoring tech on the Apple Watch portfolio in the near future.
You’ll Need A Compatible Glucose Monitor
Though the Apple Watch can’t monitor your blood glucose levels on its own, there are some glucose monitors on the market that are able to send alerts to your iPhone. This vital feature warns diabetics about an impending high or low blood glucose emergency, giving them time to get help. In some cases, these alerts can also be delivered to an Apple Watch and that may be a life-saving capability, as outlined by CNET’s Justin Eastzer. In a November 2022 editorial, Eastzer revealed that an alert from his continuous glucose monitor sent to his Apple Watch woke him up in the middle of the night just in time for him to get some sugar in his system before he passed out from dangerously low blood glucose levels.
As Eastzer’s story revealed, a diabetic may be only minutes away from a life-threatening health situation, which is why getting a real-time alert is so important. Because an Apple Watch is strapped on your wrist, it may prove more useful than an alert sent to a phone. In order to get the alerts on your smartwatch, however, you’ll need a glucose monitor that is compatible. In Eastzer’s case, it appears he was using a Dexcom G6. However, there are a few other options on the market, too, such as the Eversense CGM.
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New Apple Watch Health Features Coming This Year But Blood Pressure And Blood Sugar Sensors Delayed
Apple is still planning to add body temperature monitoring and new health features to the Apple Watch this year, despite experiencing development problems with blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring, in addition to multiple new features in the iPhone‘s Health app, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
Apple has reportedly been working on an updated sensor for the Apple Watch that is capable of determining if a user has high blood pressure, but accuracy has been an issue when testing the technology on employees. The feature is purportedly able to tell users if they may have hypertension, rather than provide specific systolic and diastolic readings. Apple is said to have been working on the feature for at least four years, but it is unlikely to be ready until 2024 at the earliest and may slip to 2025.
Apple is also working on non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, but the feature is still believed to be several years away and the company is not yet targeting a release year. In the meanwhile, Apple has discussed improving support for third-party glucose meters on the Apple Watch and on the iPhone’s Health app to help users with diabetes.
Amid Apple’s work on new health features and a number of departures on the company’s health team, Gurman added that some employees have been unhappy with Apple’s progress, arguing that enhancements are taking too long, not enough risks are being taken, and that the Health team has not grown in at least two years.
Nutrisense Continuous Glucose Monitor
This one has been a game-changer for me personally, as well as clients and friends.
A continuous glucose monitor provides insight about how nutrition, sleep, exercise, and stress directly impact our glucose levels.
Its a small sensor that measures our glucose values 24/7. The sensor is applied to the back of the arm and worn for up to 14 days. By scanning the sensor with our phone, we can see our blood glucose levels shifting in real time, showing how our glucose levels respond to what we eat, how we move and more.
While the initial impression may be that this is solely for individuals with diabetes, it can provide significant benefit across the board, including those looking to maximize athletic performance, lose extra weight, maximize energy and more.
Two examples of what I learned by wearing a CGM for a month:
Pre-workout fueling: I had been reaching for carbs before high-intensity workouts something weve guided athletes to do for years. Within 20 minutes, however, my glucose levels plummeted to the 50s, leaving me feeling light-headed and weak. After testing out several workouts and getting the same reaction, I switched my pre-workout fueling to an almond flour tortilla with melted cheese rich in fat and protein, low in carbs. The result: My glucose levels stayed steady in the 80s and 90s throughout my workout my energy and power felt solid.
Starting at $199 per month depending on subscription length.
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A Team Dedicated To Blood Glucose Levels Measurements
In hospital settings, measuring blood glucose levels typically involves drinking a drink containing glucose to draw blood and measure blood sugar levels. With the ability to monitor the lack of stability in the increase and decrease of blood glucose levels, users will have the chance of improving their diets.
Apple has allegedly acquired patents for technology related to blood glucose levels hence its said to be focusing on securing reliability and stability before commercializing the technology. According to rumors, it seems the Apple watch glucose monitor has been something the company has been considering for a while. A team of biomedical engineers, as well as consultants, was created by Apple in 2017. It was meant to work exclusively on non-invasive sensors for blood sugar level monitoring.
Can The Apple Watch Se 2 Monitor Blood Sugar
The Apple Watch SE 2 offers essential health-tracking features and the latest watchOS software in an affordable package.
The Apple Watch SE 2 is the most affordable smartwatch in Apple’s 2022 watch lineup. Next to the mighty Apple Watch Ultra and the well-rounded Apple Watch Series 8, the Apple Watch SE 2 may seem less attractive. But make no mistake, it’s a capable smartwatch that offers comprehensive health-tracking features, powerful performance, and the latest watchOS software at an attractive price tag.
While the Apple Watch SE 2 can track your heart rate, workouts, and sleep, it does miss out on advanced features such as ECG and blood oxygen monitoring. But what about blood sugar? Can Apple’s latest affordable watch measure your glucose levels?
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These Apple Watch Features Could Save Your Life
The Apple Watch has health and safety features that could rescue you and others from life-threatening situations.
The Apple Watch does much more than just make calls, receive texts and navigate you from point A to point B. Its onboard health and safety features can save you or others from scary situations — I know this because I’ve experienced it firsthand.
High glucose alert via the Dexcom continuous glucose monitor app.
I have Type 1 diabetes, and I wear a continuous glucose monitor that measures my blood sugar levels. If my blood sugar gets dangerously low, I can pass out or go into a diabetic coma. Luckily, my glucose monitor connects to my Apple Watch and sends notifications before it’s too late. This feature saved my life a few months ago.
I woke up to a dangerously low blood sugar warning on my Apple Watch. I ran to the fridge, grabbed some orange juice, drank it and then passed out. I woke up a few minutes later because my sugar levels went back to normal. That was one of the scariest moments of my life, and thanks to my Apple Watch alerts, I was able to address the low blood sugar before it was too late.
In addition to blood sugar warnings, the Apple Watch can help keep people safe in other ways, too. Here are a few other life-saving features to take advantage of:
Can The Apple Watch Se 2 Measure Your Blood Sugar
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the Apple Watch SE 2 can’t measure your blood sugar. This isn’t due to the cost-cutting. It’s because noninvasive blood sugar monitoring isn’t yet possible through any smartwatch. In fact, no commercial-grade smartwatch on the market currently offers blood glucose monitoring.
There are reports that Apple and Samsung are testing optical sensors that can measure blood glucose levels noninvasively through the wrist. But due to the sheer complexity involved in developing a continuous sensor that can fit inside a small watch and deliver accurate and reliable data, it’s unlikely we’ll see such a feature arrive with an Apple Watch anytime soon.
And even when blood sugar monitoring finally becomes available, it’s unlikely that Apple would include it on the Watch SE models. The company has been very clear that its focus with the SE is on making a more affordable Apple Watch, not a more feature-packed one. It’s safe to assume that the Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Series would be the first to include glucose tracking.
If you’re looking for a smartwatch that can monitor your blood sugar, you’ll have to wait a little longer. In the meantime, you can still use your Watch SE 2 to track your activity levels, heart rate, and sleep. If you want something more advanced and have the budget, the Apple Watch Series 8 will offer even more advanced features, and there are some deals that might make it more attractive.
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