Apple is reportedly still working on glucose monitoring, this time through software. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the company tried an app this year for prediabetic people, helping them manage their diet and lifestyle. Apple reportedly has no plans to release the app to consumers, but it could play a role in future health products.
The company reportedly tested the app internally and, through a blood test, it was confirmed that employees were at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The subjects “actively monitored their blood sugar level through various devices available in the market”, recording the corresponding glucose changes. The app would then note correlations between dietary changes and blood sugar levels (e.g., “don't eat the pasta”).
Gurman says Apple stopped the test to focus on other health features. Bloomberg notes that the Apple Health app currently lacks meal tracking, something rival services offer. The post also says that Apple could eventually offer deeper integration of third-party glucose tracking into its products.
The study was reportedly not directly related to Apple's 15-year quest to offer non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, something that seemingly repeats itself in Apple Watch rumors every cycle. The company's current hardware prototype is reportedly an iPhone-sized wearable device that uses lasers to shoot light into the skin. Gurman says Apple's first consumer version, whether in the Apple Watch or some other form, will likely only notify users if they are prediabetic. Providing specific glucose levels would have to be done in later iterations.
