Smart watches have added incredibly sophisticated health features over the past few years, with the ability to take electrocardiograms to diagnose atrial fibrillation and monitor your blood oxygen levels. But if rumors are to be believed, the following version of Samsung’s Galaxy Watch and the Apple Watch Series 7 could try the holy grail of health instruments: non-invasive monitoring of blood glucose.
The report comes from ETNews, which claims that Samsung plans to launch the feature in the second half of this year with a so-called Galaxy Watch 4, or possibly a Galaxy Watch Active 3. Meanwhile, the publication also claims that Apple is also apparently getting ready to the feature on the Series 7 and has “secured” the necessary patents. In both cases, the glucose-monitoring will allegedly take place via a non-invasive optical sensor.
This is a classic case of ‘big as true’. That said, it is not out of the question. In 2020, Samsung done team up with MIT to develop a non-invasive method for blood glucose-monitoring use Raman spectroscopy and their findings in Scientific progress. As far as Apple is concerned, blood glucoserumors monitored around for a while. Back in 2017, CNBC report the company had a “secret group” of biomedical engineers working on a project to develop non-invasive sensors that could monitor blood sugar levels. Steve Jobs started the initiative and at that time progressed to clinical trials in the Bay. According to MacRumors, around that time, Apple CEO Tim Cook was also spotted carry a potential prototype glucose monitor connected to his Apple Watch.
At CES 2021, a portable, which also stood out – you suspect – was a non-invasive blood glucosesmart watch monitoring of the Japanese startup Quantum Operation. The prototype would presumably be able to measure blood glucose in real time via the pulse, and also uses ‘patented spectrum sensing technology’.
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Although it is likely that we can see non-invasive glucose-to monitor somewhere further, it’s also a good idea to be a little skeptical about timing. This technology will of course be a boon for diabetics, who have to prick their skin several times a day for blood sugar readings. It’s supposed to be a game changer – but only if it’s so exceptionally accurate, with a low margin of error, and approved by the appropriate regulatory bodies for consumer use. The ETNews report claims that Apple ‘focuses on the reliability and stability before commercializing this technology’, but this particular stage can last from a few months to a few years.
The FDA will have to sign off any smartwatch feature for blood glucose monitoring, which can be a lengthy process. Eif the ETNews report This is 100% true, there is nothing to say whether FDA approvals will be secured by Samsung or Apple by late summer or fall, as the companies have historically introduced new smartwatches. And if the technology never achieves a reliable degree of accuracy, it is possible that it does not go to pulses at all.
At the moment it is too early to call or blood glucose-monitoring will appear on next-generation Samsung and Apple smartwatches. After all, no one expected FDA-cleared ECGs with the Series 4. But if one of the companies would get it right in 2021? This is the most recent update of any smartwatch we’ve ever seen.