All articles tagged with #blood sugar monitoring
The Oura Ring has partnered with Dexcom's Stelo to enable blood sugar monitoring for non-diabetics, providing real-time insights into how food, activity, and timing affect blood glucose levels. The author tested the system for two weeks, discovering that even healthy foods can cause spikes, but proper food pairing, exercise, and timing can help manage blood sugar effectively without drastic diet changes.
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), small devices that track blood sugar levels, are now approved for use by people without diabetes, sparking debate about their benefits. While they have revolutionized diabetes care and can help some individuals identify carbohydrate sensitivities or motivate healthier eating, evidence on their effectiveness for the general population is mixed. Experts warn that data can be confusing, inaccurate, or misleading, and emphasize the importance of proper interpretation and context. Overall, CGMs may be helpful for specific individuals but are not universally proven to improve health outcomes for those without diabetes.
The FDA has warned against using smartwatches and smart rings that claim to measure blood sugar levels without needles, stating that no consumer device currently offers non-invasive blood sugar monitoring. While companies like Apple and Samsung are reportedly working on this technology, it is not yet available. Consumers are advised to be skeptical of such claims and to report any devices making them to the FDA.
On World Diabetes Day, TOI Medithon is hosting a webinar featuring three renowned doctors who will discuss effective strategies for managing diabetes and leading a healthy life. The doctors emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, and consistent blood sugar monitoring, while also encouraging regular visits to healthcare professionals.
The first Apple Watch was originally intended to launch with non-invasive blood sugar monitoring as its headline feature, but the company faced challenges and scaled back its ambitions. Apple's focus on health monitoring has been criticized for targeting the "worried well" rather than those with significant health issues. The company is still working on bringing blood sugar and blood pressure monitoring to the Apple Watch, but the goal now is to identify trends rather than provide accurate measurements. Apple's cautious approach is driven by fear of regulation and failure, but critics argue that to make a significant contribution to healthcare, the company needs to be willing to face these challenges and "get its hands dirty."
Huawei Watch 4 claims to have a new suite of features dedicated to assessing high blood sugar in those with diabetes or pre-diabetes, including a hyperglycemic risk assessment to detect abnormal blood sugar levels. However, it's not clear how the smartwatch collects blood sugar data without drawing blood. The rest of the Huawei Watch 4 specs include HarmonyOS 3.1, a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, and almost 5-day battery life. The smartwatch is available for pre-order starting at around $410.