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Can a Smartwatch Monitor My Blood Sugar?

May 23, 2024

Routine blood sugar checks can feel like a never-ending task when you have diabetes. But new technology offers easy blood sugar monitoring, without the finger prick.

We asked an expert if smartwatches and rings that measure your blood sugar level are worth your time.

Smartwatches claim to offer easy and affordable blood sugar monitoring.

Smartwatches and rings are an attractive choice for monitoring blood sugar, as they are non-invasive and affordable.

“Measuring blood sugar levels is cumbersome for many with diabetes,” says Shorya Bector, MD, primary care provider at Hartford HealthCare Medical Group. “While continuous glucose monitors have helped ease the process, cost remains a limiting factor.”

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But their non-invasive quality almost makes them inaccurate.

Non-invasive monitors don’t directly measure glucose levels. This tends to make them inaccurate.

“And if you use insulin, an inaccurate reading inevitably leads to errors in dosing, leading to poor control, which may be life-threatening,” adds Dr. Bector.

Even if you don’t have diabetes, inaccurate readings can still have a negative impact on your health over time.

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Bad blood sugar readings can even be dangerous for people without diabetes.

Even if you don’t have diabetes, inaccurate readings can still have a negative impact on your health over time.

“Moreover, it’s also concerning to think about the impact these smartwatches have on people who do not have diabetes. Unnecessary and inaccurate glucose monitoring could lead to unhealthy eating habits and, over time, might even result in eating disorders,” expresses Dr. Bector.

For these reasons, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that smartwatches and rings claiming to measure blood sugar levels without piercing the skin could be dangerous and should be avoided.