Apple Watch Series 7 Rumored to Feature Blood Glucose Monitoring

[chucker23n1]

Chronic high blood sugar causes obesity and type 2 diabetes.

I guess my quibble here is with the causality. High blood sugar is more of a symptom than the cause. (Of course, prolonged high blood sugar is the cause of all kinds of long-term issues.) It also doesn't cause obesity; if anything, prolonged high blood sugar would, through ketoacidosis, make you rapidly lose weight.

If people become more aware of how their diet impacts their blood sugar, they will be empowered to make better decisions.

Without question, yes.

We know extremely little about this rumor (if it's true at all), but the most likely scenario I see is one equivalent to ECG:

• for non-diabetics, it's good enough to get a vague "there could be an undiagnosed problem here" reading, which you then follow up with a doctor's visit.
• for diabetes, though, it frankly isn't that useful unless it handily surpasses existing CGMs in some key aspect (cost, convenience, accuracy?). Cost is tricky because of insurance, convenience is likely (but existing NFC-based reader aren't that inconvenient), accuracy is very unlikely because it would compete against invasive methods.

I used to drive as fast as possible whenever possible. Then I bought a hybrid car with a fuel economy indicator. Because I could see how my driving behavior directly impacted my fuel economy, I completely changed my driving style.

Yes, but "I have higher than expected blood glucose" isn't an indicator for "I should change my diet" but "I should go to the doctor and figure out why", even if diet changes are a possible part of the treatment.

 

[-BigMac-]

Here you go: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=site:forums.macrumors.com+"svanstrom"

They're your posts, not your threads.

Can't be bothered with your toxicity anyway cya

 

[pplfn]

Yes, but "I have higher than expected blood glucose" isn't an indicator for "I should change my diet" but "I should go to the doctor and figure out why", even if diet changes are a possible part of the treatment.

I think you are right and also after going to the doctor and beginning a treatment to see how it is working is the second big impact of a blood glucose monitoring. The car example of @ryanflanders256 also applies with me, as i began improving my driving style after realizing how much I was consuming.

 

[christiaanb]

I've been waiting since Watch 1 for Apple to produce a watch with glucose monitoring. It'll be the first watch I've bought in 25 years.

People who think such a feature is just for people with diabetes are wrong. The ability to monitor your blood glucose levels will allow healthy people to monitor how their body (or more specifically their gut flora) react to certain foods in terms of blood sugar levels and modify their diet appropriately.

This will kick start a revolution in personalised diets.

There are some smart people trying to do this with predictive algorithms already (See the Zoe app, created in conjunction with Tim Spector). Realtime blood sugar monitoring will make it even easier.

 

[shaikhi]

If this feature ships at all, I wouldn't be surprised if it's too inaccurate to be good enough for diabetics.

You want accuracy, uses a standard glucometer--then tell me you can tolerate pricking your fingers every hour when you have to get a picture of your glucose profile. I just need to know roughly where I stand and then take precise measurements another way when I'm not in the ballpark.

 

[shaikhi]

I've been waiting since Watch 1 for Apple to produce a watch with glucose monitoring. It'll be the first watch I've bought in 25 years.

People who think such a feature is just for people with diabetes are wrong. The ability to monitor your blood glucose levels will allow healthy people to monitor how their body (or more specifically their gut flora) react to certain foods in terms of blood sugar levels and modify their diet appropriately.

This will kick start a revolution in personalised diets.

There are some smart people trying to do this with predictive algorithms already. Realtime blood sugar monitoring will make it even easier.

I've been waiting since 1999 when Cygnus, a short-lived startup, announced work on a non-invasive blood glucose monitor. Will be 1st in line to get this watch--bugs and all.

 

[bLackjackj]

Jesus mate settle down!
Just stating ECG is a feature of my Apple Watch model. Therefore, a bit of the production cost of my Apple Watch, went towards the ECG hardware, which is disabled atm.
So I paid for something which I cannot use right now.

Rediculous statement. You paid for an Apple watch knowing that a feature was missing & now whinging. Why did you buy it if you're that cranky about it? Use some common sense mate, you paid through the nose because it's an Apple product. Buy a Whithings & stop complaining..

 

[Td1970]

I work in the medical laboratory business. No one here seems to be worried that this is true. Tech isn’t ready yet.

 

[-BigMac-]

Rediculous statement. You paid for an Apple watch knowing that a feature was missing & now whinging. Why did you buy it if you're that cranky about it? Use some common sense mate, you paid through the nose because it's an Apple product. Buy a Whithings & stop complaining..

haha you're deliberately miss-quoting me, putting words in my mouth and making assumptions.

All I said is I have paid for that feature, through production costs which is represented in all models - irrespective of enabled feature set in a region.

The feature was disabled when I bought the device, but it was also implied this feature will be enabled in the future.


You realise forums are for people to discuss their opinions right?
Seems like you're trying to shut me up from voicing my opinion, breaking TOS.

 

[KevinRS]

Did nobody else enjoy The Gemini Man as a kid?

Oh yes, I remember that series from the 70's. I haven't seen it in years but remembered the watch and the 15 minutes and also that it starred Ben Murphy

 

[RedRaven571]

If Apple can pull it off, it will be a real game changer for millions of diabetics who have to deal with finger pricks to monitor their BG. Even better would be if health insurers would pay for an Apple watch for diabetics vs. a glucometer and test strips (the test strips being the expensive part of that equation).

 

[mikemj23]

I work in the medical laboratory business. No one here seems to be worried that this is true. Tech isn’t ready yet.

I realize you probably haven't read through all of the posts, but there are posts (like mine) who are very skeptical of this rumor being true. And I agree with you.

 

[bLackjackj]

The feature was disabled when I bought the device, but it was also implied this feature will be enabled in the future.

🙄 how many more times? It was NEVER implied that the feature would be available in Australia. You've just assumed incorrectly that it would be coming soon, and purchased knowing that it wasent available. The mistake is 100% yours,..own it & please stop whinging for goodness sakes.

 

[-BigMac-]

🙄 how many more times? It was NEVER implied that the feature would be available in Australia. You've just assumed incorrectly that it would be coming soon, and purchased knowing that it wasent available. The mistake is 100% yours,..own it & please stop whinging for goodness sakes.

I'm assuming the same way that you are assuming the Airtags will come soon. Thats why they are in your display picture. It's what the forums are for, discussing Apple products. Thanks

 

[polyphenol]

It's very easy to see why glucose monitoring has huge potential. But let's not stop with glucose!

A huge number of people have thyroid disorders. And current testing is very far from adequate. In my area, standard testing is just to measure TSH once a year. Despite the fact that TSH varies significantly through each and every day. Just taking that annual test at a different time of day is enough to throw interpretation.

If Apple could incorporate a means of measuring TSH, Free T4 and Free T3, or other relevant markers, it could transform management of thyroid disorders. It is a huge challenge - and might prove impossible. But let than not be based on assumption.

More than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime. An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.
https://www.thyroid.org/media-main/press-room/

 

[tivoboy]

It's very easy to see why glucose monitoring has huge potential. But let's not stop with glucose!

A huge number of people have thyroid disorders. And current testing is very far from adequate. In my area, standard testing is just to measure TSH once a year. Despite the fact that TSH varies significantly through each and every day. Just taking that annual test at a different time of day is enough to throw interpretation.

If Apple could incorporate a means of measuring TSH, Free T4 and Free T3, or other relevant markers, it could transform management of thyroid disorders. It is a huge challenge - and might prove impossible. But let than not be based on assumption.

More than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime. An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.
https://www.thyroid.org/media-main/press-room/

Yes, but uh yeah no. Sorry we’re many many MANY years out from anything like that. IN HOME limited blood testing would be surely beneficial for many humans, we’re probably closer to that than a watch that would do TSA, PSA, anything else for that matter where a true current machine assay is required. Anything that currently requires an assay, centrifurging or any reagent is going to be many years from now.

 

[polyphenol]

Yes, but uh yeah no. Sorry we’re many many MANY years out from anything like that. IN HOME limited blood testing would be surely beneficial for many humans, we’re probably closer to that than a watch that would do TSA, PSA, anything else for that matter where a true current machine assay is required. Anything that currently requires an assay, centrifurging or any reagent is going to be many years from now.

Yes - many years, I am sure you are right.

But I hope we don't see the situation in which, having managed glucose, it is just left there. Thyroid, despite levothyroxine being one of the most prescribed medicines in the world, is sometimes regarded as quite low in prevalence.

And I did say "or other relevant markers" - as I suspect that even if the principle current standard tests are unachievable, factors which would be usable might be identified. The field of metabolomics is finding all sorts of changes related to disorders of which some might be measurable.

 

[tivoboy]

I think the highest probabilites for “what is next” will be temperature, blood pressure, pulmonary function and then possibly a 3 lead EKG using a 2nd piece of small hardware. Blood chemistry will be much more limited in the near term, sadly.

 

[polyphenol]

I think the highest probabilites for “what is next” will be temperature, blood pressure, pulmonary function and then possibly a 3 lead EKG using a 2nd piece of small hardware. Blood chemistry will be much more limited in the near term, sadly.

Temperature is, or can be, a relevant marker for thyroid disorders!

And blood pressure.

"Hypertension, most commonly diastolic, is increased in patients with hypothyroidism because of increased peripheral vascular resistance. Hypertension is caused by hypothyroidism in 3 percent of patients with high blood pressure."

And pulmonary function.

"Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism cause respiratory muscle weakness and decrease pulmonary function. Hypothyroidism reduces respiratory drive and can cause obstructive sleep apnea or pleural effusion, while hyperthyroidism increases respiratory drive and can cause dyspnea on exertion."

And heart function:

"In hypothyroidism, symptoms may include slowing of the heart rate, constriction of the blood vessels and increased blood pressure, retention of fluid and edema and an increase in cholesterol levels."
I'd add reflexes as another physical measurement - though usually as a delayed relaxation of deep tendon reflexes.

I put that phrase, "or other relevant markers", in because there are several things worth measuring - not just those three specific biochemicals. But TSH, FT4 and FT3 would be especially helpful as the medical establishment has built everything on them. Hence no doctor re-education required on the basis of different things being measured.

 

[ctdonath]

Constant monitoring doesn't do you much good if it's inaccurate. It would just be getting more of something worthless.

I don’t understand why people on this thread insist on the notion that Apple would knowingly put out a medical product that’s inaccurate (as in generically, broadly, uselessly so). Do y’all really think a $2T company would promote a major new feature, to a primary product, that’s “inaccurate”?

 

[urbanslaughter1997]

I don’t understand why people on this thread insist on the notion that Apple would knowingly put out a medical product that’s inaccurate (as in generically, broadly, uselessly so). Do y’all really think a $2T company would promote a major new feature, to a primary product, that’s “inaccurate”?

No, I don’t. I think it’s not believable that they will be able to produce an accurate product that is non-invasive. That is why I don’t think this sensor will be part of the next Apple watch.

 

[Davidalan]

Apple developing new terahertz radiation sensor tech for non-invasive glucose monitoring

Apple developing new terahertz radiation sensor tech for non-invasive glucose monitoring | AppleInsider

A series of new patent applications backs up recent claims that Apple will introduce the ability for a future Apple Watch to monitor glucose using terahertz electromagnetic radiation without the need to draw blood.

appleinsider.com

 

[Davidalan]

From patently Apple:

Apple invents a next-gen Terahertz Sensor Module for Superior Gas Detection & high-speed THz-based data communication applications

2019 was a big year for Apple patents relating to iDevices with gas detection sensors. Our report in late November 2019 pointed to Apple's fifth published patent for the year. Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a series of four patent applications from Apple that relate to a...

www.patentlyapple.com

 

[chucker23n1]

I don’t understand why people on this thread insist on the notion that Apple would knowingly put out a medical product that’s inaccurate (as in generically, broadly, uselessly so). Do y’all really think a $2T company would promote a major new feature, to a primary product, that’s “inaccurate”?

"Accurate" is a gradient.

If Apple has figured out non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, that's already a big deal by itself.

If, in addition, their method is as accurate as current invasive methods, that's a far bigger deal, because, well, you're kind of further away from the source. Invasive methods literally take a sample of blood and then analyze it. A non-invasive method obviously can't do that, so it has to approximate or extrapolate from different data.

 

[Kurios2]

That would be the holy grail of smart watch features.

Why would someone want to prick for blood when they can just buy an Apple Watch?

It would also be good for those with increased risk.

I definitely agree that it would be the holy grail of smart watches. No need to stick a sensor in your body. Many of them are inaccurate, so you go back to lancing your fingers. If it’s proven to work and passes the FDA, I’ll buy it.