The FDA opposes the use of smart watches to monitor blood sugar levels

However, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now opposed such technology, saying it is inaccurate and could cause patients to be misdiagnosed.

The FDA said users should not use smart watches to measure blood sugar

A paper shared by health authorities (via Reuters) on Wednesday argues that smart wearables that can measure blood glucose levels without penetrating the skin could lead to 'inaccurate measurements' . The FDA emphasized that there are currently no smart watches and similar devices capable of directly testing blood sugar levels.

The agency said people who rely on continuous blood sugar measurements — such as people with diabetes — could take the wrong dose of insulin or other medications if the results are inaccurate. 'Taking too much of this medication can quickly lead to dangerously low blood sugar levels, leading to mental confusion, coma, or death,' the FDA said.

The FDA also notes that it has never certified any device capable of measuring blood sugar levels without penetrating the skin. 'Sellers of these smart watches and smart rings claim their devices measure blood sugar levels without requiring people to prick their fingers or pierce their skin. They claim to use non-invasive techniques,' the agency stated.

Currently, the only wearable devices cleared by the FDA to measure blood sugar are continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), such as the Dexcom G7.

The FDA opposes the use of smart watches to monitor blood sugar levels Picture 1

Apple wants to bring such technology to the Apple Watch

As the article mentioned earlier, Apple has put a lot of effort into developing technology to measure blood sugar levels using the Apple Watch without penetrating the skin. While this is a very ambitious project, Bloomberg reported last year that the company had achieved 'key milestones' with its prototype.

The company has been testing a technology called silicon photonics and a process called optical absorption spectroscopy that uses lasers to emit wavelengths of light into the area under the skin where intestinal fluid contains substances containing harmful substances. can be absorbed by glucose.

Of course, given the importance of this feature, it seems unlikely that Apple will make it available to users without FDA approval. It's worth noting that the FDA has certified the Apple Watch as capable of taking electrocardiograms and tracking atrial fibrillation history.

Marvin Fry

Update 22 February 2024