Apple is reportedly planning to bring a new, first-of-its-kind health technology to the Apple Watch Series 7, in what could be a breakthrough for managing conditions such as diabetes more easily.
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According to a recent report from ETNews, the Apple Watch Series 7 will feature blood glucose monitoring via a non-invasive optical sensor.
Measuring blood glucose levels, also known as blood sugar levels, is vital to managing conditions such as diabetes. Normally, measuring blood glucose requires testing a drop of blood in a blood sugar meter or using an implanted continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
The Apple-designed blood glucose optical sensor is believed to be a skin-top continuous monitoring solution that does not require an implant. The company is said to have secured patents around blood glucose monitoring, and it is now purportedly "focusing on securing reliability and stability prior to commercialization of the technology."
The ability to observe any major increases or decreases in blood glucose on the Apple Watch may raise awareness of a potential health condition or simply help to improve a user's diet. Apple has added a range of health-oriented features to the Apple Watch in recent years, such as the ability to measure blood oxygen levels or take an ECG.
Rumors suggest that Apple has been interested in adding blood glucose monitoring to the Apple Watch for some time. The company reportedly established a team of biomedical engineers and consultants to specifically work on sensors for non-invasively monitoring blood sugar levels in 2017, and the project reportedly progressed to clinical trials. Apple CEO Tim Cook has even been spotted testing that was believed to be a prototype blood glucose monitor connected to his Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch Series 7 is expected to launch later this year, but there have been few rumors so far about what the new model may feature. While there have been reports of micro-LED displays and solid-state buttons with haptic feedback for the Apple Watch, these features are not expected to arrive this year.
