How Apple Could Change the Lives of Diabetics

by Alice Chapman

March 3, 2023

A recent Bloomberg report has revealed what Apple has in store for the future in terms of the development of their smartwatch. They are currently on the way to inventing an additional piece of technology associated with the Apple watch that can track a diabetic person’s blood glucose levels without having to prick the skin and take a blood sample. 

Although there are still years left in the manufacturing process, once successfully finalised, this device could change the lives of diabetics around the world, and become an everyday essential gadget to replace blood glucose meters. 

This health technology has been 12 years so far in the making and is now finally at a stage where the end may be in sight  it’s still a long way off, but the most “possible” it has ever been.

How this technology could help people and where

On average, 1 in 10 people in the US have diabetes and according to the  World Health Organisation, diabetics are 422 million worldwide. 

Adding this system to the Apple watch could not only be a business game changer for Apple, but also transform the lives of those who rely on pricking their skin every time they need to check their blood.

The current medical options for diabetic people are either using blood glucose meters or patches from Dexcom Inc and Abbott laboratories which have to be inserted under the skin every two weeks — a hassle in comparison to a watch that can simply be worn at all times.

How it will measure the blood glucose levels

The method that Apple is using is a chip technology called silicon photonics and optical absorption spectroscopy.

Lasers are used to release specific wavelengths of light underneath the skin where there are certain fluids that are absorbed by glucose. 

These wavelengths of light are then sent back to the sensor that can detect the glucose levels in the blood under the skin. 

The most recent Apple watch series 8 also has medical advancements that can track your temperature change over time, relating to a woman’s ovulation cycle. 

In this case Apple has noted that the watch is not a medical device, it’s a piece of health related technology and shouldn’t be used to prevent pregnancy. 

However, there is no doubt that if the new intended device can indeed measure blood glucose levels accurately, Apple will be up there as a company who produces medical technology, challenging companies such as Deexcom and Abbott. 

A remarkable shift from the iphones we all know. 

What does this mean for Apple?

Apple has been secretive about this project and this is the first time the product has hit the news. 

In fact, they are yet to make an official comment about the Bloomberg article in discussion.

Although it may seem like a breakthrough, it’s not one of Apple’s main points of focus, and has less people working on this than their self-driving car projects – which is comparable because they are both low-profile projects that few people are aware of. 

Since coming into the news, shares in other diabetic focussed companies have gone down, whilst Apple increased in value:  Bloomberg has reported that Dexcom Inc and Abbott fell by 3% before recovering, while Apple gained 0.3%. 

The estimated cost of the product is still unknown, but given Apple is yet to make a comment, it may come at a later date.

It has not yet been disclosed whether Apple will allow their technology to be freely replicable considering its health-benefiting functions.

If the new Apple watch really will be able to measure the blood glucose levels of those with diabetes, without people having to prick their skin, this would be life changing for many.

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The development of this technology can only been seen as a good thing, even if it does feel a long way off from being complete.

This article was originally published on IMPAKTER. Read the original article.