Apple has long been rumored to be working on non-invasive blood glucose monitoring. Now, a Bloomberg report says the company tested an app that helps people with prediabetes better manage their condition.
Citing anonymous Apple sources, Bloomberg notes that the app required Apple employees to validate that they were prediabetic through a blood test. The employees then monitored their blood sugar using “various commercially available devices” and recorded changes related to the foods they ate.
Prediabetes is a metabolic condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal and increases a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes. And although there is no cure for diabetes, Prediabetes can be reversed. through diet and exercise interventions. The idea of an app like this would be to show people how different options can affect blood sugar levels. For example, a meal rich in carbohydrates can increase blood sugar, but pairing the same meal with protein can mitigate the rise.
The report notes that the app was intended to investigate what tools Apple could develop using blood sugar data. However, Bloomberg It also says that Apple has since stopped work on the app to focus on other health features. Still, it's possible that Apple will use its findings in future health technology offerings.
On a larger scale, metabolic health tracking is a burgeoning trend in wearable devices. Earlier this year, Dexcom and Abbott launched over-the-counter CGMs aimed at prediabetics, nondiabetics, and type 2 diabetics who do not use insulin. There are also continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) startups, such as Nutrisense and Levels, that use CGM data to help people lose weight, fuel endurance sports, or learn how certain foods affect their blood sugar levels.
Given all this, it's not surprising to hear that Apple is interested in exploring this area. For starters, it has largely avoided native food registration while increasing third-party CGM integrations. Apple itself has reportedly spent about 15 years researching how to non-invasively monitor blood glucose, although the project is likely still years away from completion.
