The Apple Watch In Itself Is A Comprehensive Health Monitoring Device While It Can Monitor Owners Heart Rate And Blood Oxygen Level It Has Other Features Too
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Apple has just launched Apple Watch 7 and details about Apples next smartwatch model have already started appearing on the internet. Most recently, Apple and its suppliers are reported to be working on developing short-wavelength infrared sensors. While there are a lot of sensors on the Apple Watches, the short-wavelength sensor, in particular, is used to measure blood sugar levels. The report indicates that Apples upcoming smartwatch, which might be launched in 2022, will have the capability to measure users blood sugar levels.
The Apple Watch in itself is a comprehensive health monitoring device. In the past, there have been reports about the Apple Watch notifying its owner about improper heartbeats and a plausible health issue that might be causing it. Then there have been cases when Apple Watches fall detection feature has notified about owners accident to emergency contact just in the knick of time. It is able to do so with the help of advanced sensors.
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Glucose Blood Sugar Tracker
Apple Rating: 4.7
HealthKit integration estimated A1C level, and easy-to-use interface makes this app an excellent choice for diabetes management.
The Glucose Tracker App makes it possible to track insulin doses, glucose levels, medications prescribed by a doctor, and more while also providing reminders about checking your blood sugar levels at different times during the day. These features are invaluable when you have type 1 or 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
In addition to this, the app also helps you to keep close tabs on blood pressure, carbohydrates, weight, and ketones diet.
Blood Sugar Monitoring Is Not Present On The Apple Watch Series 8
As you might already know, the Apple Watch Series 8 is capable of measuring several health-related data. This makes it one of the best Apple Watch models currently available. For example, you get to take an ECG, measure your heart rate, monitor your blood oxygen, and much more! While Apple advises users not to use it as a medical device, it certainly helps us stay on the safe side. If we suspect that something is out of place, we can then consult a doctor and present the data it has collected.
Unfortunately, though, the Apple Watch Series 8 does not support blood sugar measurements or monitoring. The new health-related features that this watch introduces are too limited. You get a car crash detection monitor and a body temperature sensor to help females track their reproductive health. Otherwise, you get the same features revolving around safety and health available on the Series 7.
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Apple Working On Built
Currently, CGM relies on a separate device, but one of the most persistent of Apple Watch reports is that Apple is working on a way to integrate this functionality into the watch itself.
Specifically, the company is said to be working on a way to do this non-invasively that is, without the need to puncture the skin. This has been described as the holy grail for diabetics.
Apple is reported to have been working on this since 2012. From a 2017 report:
Such an initiative was first imagined by Steve Jobs and Apple has been working on it for five years. Jobs imagined the solution being integrated into a wearable device, such as the Apple Watch
The report, citing three people familiar with the matter, explains that Apple has hired a small team of biomedical engineers to work on the initiative. The team is said to be based out of an unmarked, nondescript office in Palo Alto, California.
The initiative sees Apple working on developing sensors that can constantly monitor blood sugar levels to better treat diabetes. While specific timeline information is unclear, the company is reportedly far enough along in it testing that it has been conducting feasibility trials.
If youre wondering why we still havent seen this come to market a decade later, thats because this stuff is hard really hard.
Apple Watch Series 8 Suppliers Developing Blood Glucose Monitoring Components
Apple’s suppliers are currently developing components for next-generation sensors in the Apple Watch Series 8 that will allow users to measure their blood glucose level, according to a new report.
According to a paywalled report from DigiTimes, Apple and its suppliers have begun working on short-wavelength infrared sensors, a commonly used sensor type for health devices. The new sensors, likely to be fitted on the back of the Apple Watch, will enable the device to measure the amount of sugar in a wearer’s blood.
The Apple Watch, over the years, has gained more comprehensive health features, most recently with the Apple Watch Series 6 that added a blood oxygen sensor. Compared to the first Apple Watch capable of measuring heart rate and primary daily activity, the Apple Watch is now capable of taking an ECG, detecting falls, high and low heart rates, blood oxygen levels, and more.
Continuing to build the Apple Watch as an all-encompassing health tool, Apple has already been rumored to be eying blood glucose measuring functionality for the next-generation Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Series 8. According to The Wall Street Journal, blood glucose level is one of multiple health metrics Apple is looking to add to the Apple Watch.
In iOS 15, the Health app added blood glucose highlights as a health metric. iOS 15 users have to use external hardware to provide the data, but that would change if Apple adds a glucose monitoring feature to a future Apple Watch model.
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Apple Watch And A Blood Glucose Sensor Help Save Life Of Cnet Editor
At some stage, Apple will release a Watch Series smartwatch with blood pressure measuring capabilities. Reputedly, these new sensors will not be ready until 2024, at the earliest. For context, Huawei sells the Watch D with a built-in blood pressure cuff. However, Huawei has not received regulatory approval to sell the Watch D with this feature enabled in many markets yet. In the meantime, CNET editor Justin Eastzer explains that an external blood glucose sensor and an Apple Watch has already saved his life.
Eastzer suffers from type 1 diabetes, meaning that his body cannot produce insulin. According to Eastzer, he uses a continuous blood glucose sensor to monitor blood sugar levels, which attaches to the skin and sends notifications to his Apple Watch when necessary. Writing on CNET, Eastzer claims that his Apple Watch woke him with a low blood sugar warning, giving him enough time to prevent a diabetic coma.
As he discusses in the embedded video below, the Apple Watch can also save lives in other ways, as can some of its competitors like the Galaxy Watch5 series. For example, there is an emergency passport, through which paramedics can read important information from your Apple Watch, such as your blood type. Also, Apple includes fall detection, which can automatically call emergency services if it senses a heavy impact, among other features.
Apple Watch: Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Watch this!
Watch this!
Looking for something useful to do with your Apple Watch? Dexcom, the maker of a continuous glucose monitor for diabetics, suggests you use the watch to monitor CGM your own or someone elses. This functionality has been available as a smartphone app, but the watch version is designed to be more convenient and discreet.
Dexcom answered my questions below:
For people with diabetes, their family members and loved ones, the Apple Watch is an extremely useful tool. It lets people access their blood glucose data right from their wrist, providing superior convenience and discretion.
The Apple Watch allows greater convenience for those who want this important information in an easy-to-use and discreet form. We share Apples commitment to making technology more accessible, relevant and personal.
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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.
Food Tracking With Blood Glucose Monitoring Would Be A Perfect Match
Iâve mentioned it a few times already, but Iâm a Type 2 diabetic. However, since Iâm also pregnant, I need to worry about the possibility of gestational diabetes as well. Iâve been monitoring my blood sugar levels with the One Drop system, but that requires pricking my finger several times a day, which I hate. Multiple people have told me to consider something like the Dexcom G6 system, but the problem with that is cost â itâs definitely pricey.
This is why I am eagerly hoping that the rumor of the Apple Watch Series 7 having a sensor for monitoring blood glucose levels to be true because it would be a total insta-buy for me. It would be more affordable than a continuous glucose monitor system, but it would still give me a general idea of how my sugar levels are doing throughout the day. And when you combine that with native food tracking in iOS 15, it would be the perfect mix.
Of course, I still plan to test the accuracy if need be with my finger sticks, but I would hope that I wouldnât have to do it as much as I am now. But just being able to see, in real-time, at a glance, how my blood sugar levels are affected by the foods I eat would genuinely be helpful when I need to report results to the doctor.
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Prescription Required Price Varies
The Libre 3 requires a prescription, so the cost will be different for everyone. Abbott said users with insurance can expect to pay $0-$25 per sensor and $70 per sensor without insurance. You’ll need to buy two a month.
Would I recommend this to other diabetics? Yes, but it depends on the user. For diabetics like me who use insulin pumps, the Libre 3 isn’t compatible yet. Abbott said it’s working on pump integration with Tandem Diabetes and Insulet. The company is also working with Bigfoot Biomedical on integration with its insulin delivery system.
For diabetics who rely on manual insulin injections or who diet to manage their diabetes, this is a great way to monitor blood sugar.
Apple Watch 8 Again Tipped To Have Blood Glucose Monitoring
The Apple Watch 7 wasnt a huge step forward from its predecessor, but there are signs that the Apple Watch 8 might be a more substantial step forward in terms of new features and technology and those new features could include blood glucose monitoring.
According to DigiTimes ), Apples suppliers have been told to prepare the necessary short-wavelength infrared sensors for measuring the levels of glucose sugar in the blood, something which could prove very helpful for those with diabetes and other related conditions.
This is by no means a new rumor, and there was talk that glucose monitoring would be included in the Apple Watch 7 that was unveiled in September. That didnt happen, but it seems more likely to be included next time around.
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The Libre 3 Is Small And Accurate
I love how small it is, so small in fact that I kept forgetting I was wearing it. I put my Dexcom G6 nearby to compare. There’s a big difference.
It was accurate most of the time. But I found that during times of rapid change, such as when I forgot to take my insulin after a meal, it became inaccurate and had a hard time keeping up. I did have two compression lows with the first sensor. A compression low is when the sensor gives an incorrect low reading. One occurred while I was sleeping on my side, and the other was while I was sitting on the couch and leaning on the sensor. I readjusted, and the device quickly corrected itself. I made sure to choose a better placement for the second sensor.
Blood Glucose And Smartwatches
Many smartwatches already claim to help monitor blood glucose levels, but its not quite as straightforward as it might sound.
For example, the Fitbit app can keep records of your glucose levels and give you reminders when its time to take a measurement. However, the Fitbit watch itself doesnt take the readings.
Instead, the app imports data from OneTouch Reveal , which connects to the Verio Reflect smart blood sugar meter. Like most blood glucose monitors, this works using a drop of blood from a finger-prick test.
The Blood Glucose feature is not a replacement for medical advice and is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition,Fitbit says .
It is intended to simply help you monitor and keep track of your information. You should talk to your healthcare provider for more guidance on blood glucose management. If you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
Its possible to check blood glucose levels on your Garmin watch too, but again this uses data from a separate monitor rather than the watch itself, and is only intended to help athletes plan their nutrition strategy, not for medical purposes.
The Supersapiens app for Garmin watches connects to the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor . This is a continuous glucose monitor an adhesive patch that uses a small sensor just under your skin to measure glucose in the fluid around your bodys cells .
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How The Most Exciting New Apple Watch 7 Feature Might Work
- The Apple Watch 7 is rumored to feature a blood glucose sensor, which would allow people with diabetes to monitor blood sugar levels non-invasively.
- Current methods to measure blood sugar involve drawing blood and placing the sample on a device. Some people have to perform the procedure several times a day as part of their treatment.
- A new patent finding might reveal the technology that Apple will use in the Apple Watch to offer users continuous, non-invasive glycemia readings.
The built-in health features of the Apple Watch are easily its most exciting attraction. Its not just the ability to automatically track various activities and monitor health parameters, such as heart rate, movement, and noise levels. The Apple Watch can also detect abnormalities in heart rhythms and tell whether a person has just fallen. The Watch is often credited with having saved a wearers life, and Apple often mentions those events during its own press conferences. The Apple Watch was recently involved in studies that showed it could detect COVID-19 infection several days before the symptoms appear.
Many companies have been studying technologies that would allow the non-invasive measurement of blood sugar. Millions of people have diabetes, and checking blood sugar can be an annoying chore, as the procedure involves using tiny needles to draw blood. The sample needs to be placed on a sensor for an accurate reading.
Blood Glucose Monitoring On Apple Watch
- Apple and its suppliers are currently developing components for next-generation sensors in the Apple Watch Series 8.
- This will allow users to measure their blood glucose levels.
- The first Apple Watch was capable of measuring just the heart rate and primary daily activity.
- The Apple Watch now is capable of taking an ECG, detecting falls, high and low heart rates, blood oxygen levels, and more
- The Apple Watch Series 7, announced last month, includes a larger display, faster charging, and a slightly larger battery.
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Apple and its suppliers are currently developing components for next-generation sensors in the Apple Watch Series 8 that will allow users to measure their blood glucose levels.
According to MacRumors, Apple and its suppliers have begun working on short-wavelength infrared sensors, a commonly used sensor type for health devices. The new sensors, likely to be fitted on the back of the Apple Watch, will enable the device to measure the amount of sugar in a wearer’s blood.
The Apple Watch, over the years, has gained more comprehensive health features, most recently with the Apple Watch Series 6 that added a blood oxygen sensor. Compared to the first Apple Watch capable of measuring heart rate and primary daily activity, the Apple Watch is now capable of taking an ECG, detecting falls, high and low heart rates, blood oxygen levels, and more.
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