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Apple Watch Series 7 Rumored to Feature Blood Glucose Monitoring

CordovaLark said:
This, a thousand times this. No way would this be as accurate as a Dexcom(which can/has to be recalibrated) or a actual glucose meter.
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According to this research paper, the optical method these people were using had an ~8% margin of error...which is actually about the same as a Dexcom.

And much better than the real world accuracy of the implantable glucose sensors my wife uses Hers are off by 30 points sometimes...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6116315/
 
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ikramerica said:
Your points are not based on accurate knowledge of the watch.

If you were to simply charge the watch during your morning shower time and during dinner, it would be usable “24/7”. It doesn’t take that long to charge.

Your condition seems to be an extreme use case where you need an alarm in the middle of the night rather than being able to make your adjustments before bed and when you awake. So if you are concerned, I would say own 2, as it’s a health issue.

Yet you are unwilling to wear a watch to bed, despite your health issues, despite the benefits of wearing the watch to bed, including sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, blood ox monitoring, gentle and effective wake up alarm, etc.

So stick with your monitor. It seems your life depends on it and you don’t want to change.

But for much of the rest of the world, this may be a game changer.
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To be fair, I can't comment on your son's sensory processing issues but I do hope he is ok and I would have never thought a CGM would be beneficial for that.

However, your comments towards @Mr. Jaybear are somewhat incorrect. All T1's who use a CGM like a Dexcom are thankful for it's alarms (high for too long can lead to long term complications and low can lead to the diabetic passing out and needed a trip to the hospital, or worse, not waking up at all). You are correct that we are all making assumptions based on what could be and more importantly, what couldn't be if Apple implements a CGM into the Apple Watch. Just because he relies on these things doesn't mean his case is "extreme" and what does that even mean? Having T1 diabetes is an extreme disease. It's extremely difficult to manage even with all of the wonderful technological advances of the past 20 years. Which is exactly why this would be such a monumental achievement for Apple as no other company has provided a commercially available non-invasive glucose sensor accurate enough to allow for dosing decisions, let alone one built into a watch.

I'm sure, if Apple comes through with a non-invasive CGM that is accurate enough to get FDA approval for dosing, then we will all be the first in line to get it. I truly hope they've done it.
 
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ikramerica said:
Your points are not based on accurate knowledge of the watch.

If you were to simply charge the watch during your morning shower time and during dinner, it would be usable “24/7”. It doesn’t take that long to charge.

Your condition seems to be an extreme use case where you need an alarm in the middle of the night rather than being able to make your adjustments before bed and when you awake. So if you are concerned, I would say own 2, as it’s a health issue.

Yet you are unwilling to wear a watch to bed, despite your health issues, despite the benefits of wearing the watch to bed, including sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, blood ox monitoring, gentle and effective wake up alarm, etc.

So stick with your monitor. It seems your life depends on it and you don’t want to change.

But for much of the rest of the world, this may be a game changer.
Click to expand...
1. It does take that long to charge. You must have a special version I don't know about.
2. You don't sound like you understand what living as a diabetic is like, or how Type 1 diabetics rely upon technology just to freaking stay alive. Blood sugar fluctuates A LOT at night, and basal rates with an insulin pump must be programmed to address them. I appreciate receiving alarms for hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia at night from my Dexcom. You speak of things you do not understand.
 
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Mr. Jaybear said:
Type 1 diabetic here, weighing in. I currently wear a Dexcom continue glucose monitor and use an insulin pump. I'm going to assume that this Apple Watch would work well enough to make medical decisions -- e.g., do I give myself insulin based upon the glucose reading from my Apple Watch?

Although this would be a very welcome feature, I do not see it replacing my Dexcom CGM.

First, I cannot even tell that I'm wearing a Dexcom CGM, and it's connected 24 hours/day. This means I have blood glucose data all the time as long as I'm within Bluetooth proximity of my iPhone. (Unfortunately, the readings don't go directly to the Apple Watch yet; the iPhone remains an intermediary). This is a big deal -- when my blood sugar goes too high or too low when I'm asleep, I receive an audio alarm, even when my iPhone is charging by my bed. It's awesome. I do not want to wear an Apple Watch 24/7 or while I'm sleeping to achieve this.

Second, you have to take off an Apple Watch to recharge it, and during that often substantial time, that means I would receive no blood glucose readings. Apple Watches do not recharge very quickly, so no blood glucose readings during that time.

Setting that aside, the benefits cannot be minimized.

First, Type 1s like me hemorrhage cash just to stay alive. Insulin vials (2-3 per month at $300/vial in the US), transmitters and sensors for continuous glucose monitors, and insulin pump supplies are EXPEN$IVE. It's shocking. A one-time payment for an Apple Watch is a bargain compared to $125 (roughly) for a Dexcom sensor that lasts only 10 days. The price savings would open up the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring to so many diabetics who could benefit.

Second, I would love to be able to leave my iPhone behind when I go running or partake in other outdoor activities. Wearing only an Apple Watch, I could keep an eye on my blood sugar, and still have the benefits of music and communication. That would be killer.

Definitely a step in the right direction, though.
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My wife has been Type 1 since she was 7 years old, and there is no way she would ever say that wearing a watch to bed is somehow more uncomfortable, or more inconvenient, or less preferable, than a CGM like a Dexcom. It would be such a huge quality of life improvement. She already has to be connected to an insulin pump 24/7, and deal with inserting cannulas every few days...removing a sensor from her body and not having to deal with that would be incredible.

Also, the Apple watch charges in 2.5 hours. Like someone else said, it would be worth it to have two watches to switch between if that was a concern. And according to the research paper i linked above, early experiments seem to show accuracy almost equivalent to a Dexcom
 
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vinegarshots said:
My wife has been Type 1 since she was 7 years old, and there is no way she would ever say that wearing a watch to bed is somehow more uncomfortable, or more inconvenient, or less preferable, than a CGM like a Dexcom. It would be such a huge quality of life improvement. She already has to be connected to an insulin pump 24/7, and deal with inserting cannulas every few days...removing a sensor from her body and not having to deal with that would be incredible.

Also, the Apple watch charges in 2.5 hours. Like someone else said, it would be worth it to have two watches to switch between if that was a concern. And according to the research paper i linked above, early experiments seem to show accuracy almost equivalent to a Dexcom
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I enthusiastically support Apple going in this direction. Diabetes care and how we manage life with it is so personal. I'm an OmniPod insulin pump user (been on a pump for over 30 years), and I chose it because I can also barely tell that I'm wearing it. But some people hate it. And that's fine! There's no one-size-fits-all solution for managing this.

Glad to see that the accuracy is solid. I wouldn't imagine that Apple would splash into the diabetes market with a product that was anything less, or that FDA would permit it to be marketed.

The idea of buying two Apple Watches though? Oy, that's a tough pill to swallow.
 
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Mr. Jaybear said:
I enthusiastically support Apple going in this direction. Diabetes care and how we manage life with it is so personal. I'm an OmniPod insulin pump user (been on a pump for over 30 years), and I chose it because I can also barely tell that I'm wearing it. But some people hate it. And that's fine! There's no one-size-fits-all solution for managing this.

Glad to see that the accuracy is solid. I wouldn't imagine that Apple would splash into the diabetes market with a product that was anything less, or that FDA would permit it to be marketed.

The idea of buying two Apple Watches though? Oy, that's a tough pill to swallow.
Click to expand...
As we in the diabetic community like to say . . . Your Diabetes May Vary.
 
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From a technology perspective this capability has been around for a while. I worked on some of the optical components used in the device that is talked about in the link below. This was a working technology in 2007. Sensors and computing power have progressed a lot since 2007 so I can easily see how things have progressed to a watch size technology. The company in the link below disappeared shortly after they were acquired by a larger pharma company.

www.biospace.com

GlucoLight Corporation Raises First Tranche of $8 Million "C" Round

www.biospace.com www.biospace.com
 
Mr. Jaybear said:
Type 1 diabetic here, weighing in. I currently wear a Dexcom continue glucose monitor and use an insulin pump. I'm going to assume that this Apple Watch would work well enough to make medical decisions -- e.g., do I give myself insulin based upon the glucose reading from my Apple Watch?

Although this would be a very welcome feature, I do not see it replacing my Dexcom CGM.

First, I cannot even tell that I'm wearing a Dexcom CGM, and it's connected 24 hours/day. This means I have blood glucose data all the time as long as I'm within Bluetooth proximity of my iPhone. (Unfortunately, the readings don't go directly to the Apple Watch yet; the iPhone remains an intermediary). This is a big deal -- when my blood sugar goes too high or too low when I'm asleep, I receive an audio alarm, even when my iPhone is charging by my bed. It's awesome. I do not want to wear an Apple Watch 24/7 or while I'm sleeping to achieve this.

Second, you have to take off an Apple Watch to recharge it, and during that often substantial time, that means I would receive no blood glucose readings. Apple Watches do not recharge very quickly, so no blood glucose readings during that time.

Setting that aside, the benefits cannot be minimized.

First, Type 1s like me hemorrhage cash just to stay alive. Insulin vials (2-3 per month at $300/vial in the US), transmitters and sensors for continuous glucose monitors, and insulin pump supplies are EXPEN$IVE. It's shocking. A one-time payment for an Apple Watch is a bargain compared to $125 (roughly) for a Dexcom sensor that lasts only 10 days. The price savings would open up the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring to so many diabetics who could benefit.

Second, I would love to be able to leave my iPhone behind when I go running or partake in other outdoor activities. Wearing only an Apple Watch, I could keep an eye on my blood sugar, and still have the benefits of music and communication. That would be killer.

Definitely a step in the right direction, though.
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing your story, and your valid points. If this rumor turns out to be true (and that remains to be seen!) I’m sure Apple Watch isn’t intended for those whose diabetes is brittle enough to require constant monitoring. Fortunately for both patients and Apple, this does not describe the majority of diabetics.
 
Kabeyun said:
Thanks for sharing your story, and your valid points. If this rumor turns out to be true (and that remains to be seen!) I’m sure Apple Watch isn’t intended for those whose diabetes is brittle enough to require constant monitoring. Fortunately for both patients and Apple, this does not describe the majority of diabetics.
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No offense, but I don't think you understand how the vast majority of Type 1 diabetics rely upon continuous glucose monitoring. It's not a matter of "brittle" diabetes -- it's just the way we are vigilant with our blood glucose given the benefits of modern technology.
 
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Mr. Jaybear said:
No offense, but I don't think you understand how the vast majority of Type 1 diabetics rely upon continuous glucose monitoring. It's not a matter of "brittle" diabetes -- it's just the way we are vigilant with our blood glucose given the benefits of modern technology.
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None taken, but I do (although “vast majority” is an Internet forums term used when the poster wants to make a point but doesn’t know the stat). As I said, there are more diabetics who do not require CGM than those who do, and the AW may be a good solution for them. For people who make little to no insulin (i.e. Type 1, which is actually an older and a little misleading term, but that’s another topic) that vigilance is important and CGM is a valuable and sometimes critical tool.
 
tivoboy said:
Uh no
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According to the website, it is still under development. .

------

This product shall be a medical device but is still under development process and may still shift in the course of carrying out the project. It is not available yet. All information within emails you may receive from PKvitality or this website are provided for information purpose only. All informations, data, photos, videos contained in emails you may receive from PKvitality or this website are non contractual and proprietary information.
 
Apple_Robert said:
According to the website, it is still under development. .

------

This product shall be a medical device but is still under development process and may still shift in the course of carrying out the project. It is not available yet. All information within emails you may receive from PKvitality or this website are provided for information purpose only. All informations, data, photos, videos contained in emails you may receive from PKvitality or this website are non contractual and proprietary information.
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I meant that no if Apple had bought them we wouldn’t necessarily have heard about it. Apple has kept acquisitions secret for long periods of time before
 
Is this going to be yet another inaccurate/useless medical sensor (in addition to EKG and blood oxygen)? All this gimmicky stuff adds to the cost without providing any value.
 
Supermacguy said:
I hope this works, my wife it Type 1, and even the "medical grade" insertable/under skin sensors give wrong readings on a regular basis. Tho I don't have a lot of hope that over-the-skin can possibly be more accurate or more reliable.
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@Supermacguy curious, my wife has been using the Dexcom G5 and now G6 and it’s impressive to say the least, accurate, reliable and ~10 days between sensor swapouts. It also integrates well with an Apple Watch/iPhone app, plus a follow app for partners caters. I’d be curious to know your alternate experience.
 
The Game 161 said:
why's this an apple problem?
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It will be Apples problem when people stop buying their products because the health features aren’t available to them. Better value to buy previous generations old stock or second hand - the health features don’t work on them either and they’re half the price.
 
I have diabetes.. nothing is super accurate not even the finger prick method, but they do show trends, ie. blood glucose dropping or rising and that alone is good enough for me if the watch can check and then warn you to take a real test. Just looking at the range for control solutions, 18-49 89-133 280-421. The FDA only requires meters to be within 15% of a lab sample 95% of the time. I hope they do this.
 
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