Skip to main content

Future Apple Watches could tell you if you’re at risk for diabetes

Someone wearing an original Apple Watch Ultra showing the weather app.
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends

An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but an Apple device on your wrist could replace them altogether. Well, sort of. The Apple Watch is already chock-full of health-focused applications, but according to a recent report from Mark Gurman, an app for testing blood sugar levels is in development.

Apple has always been good at keeping a lid on its projects, but that approach has reached the next level with this app. Multiple layers of non-disclosure agreements and vetting were required before anyone could participate in the employee-only trial, so details regarding the progress of this app are limited. However, it’s another step toward needle-free measurements of your blood sugar levels.

Recommended Videos

The app in question isn’t scheduled for public release but could instead be thought of as a proof of concept. In fact, Gurman says, “[The] app test has been paused to let Apple focus on other health features.” Considering the number of balls Apple has in the air at any given time, this isn’t much of a surprise.

The idea of a needle-free way to measure blood sugar has been around for close to 15 years. Originally named E5, the project was outside the scope of Apple’s normal work, and so the company created a subsidiary, Avolonte Health LLC, to manage it. That LLC has since been reabsorbed back into Apple.

That said, Apple’s influence is far-reaching. Just the news of an Apple-driven way to measure blood sugar levels caused the market value of two of the biggest glucose monitor manufacturers to fall. Abbot dropped by 2.9%, while Dexcom dropped 5.3%.

The Apple Watch Series 10 sitting on top of a green bush.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends

For now, Apple is testing ways the information can be applied, but a truly stick-free way of measuring blood sugar is “still years away,” according to Gurman. The lasers used to measure glucose in the blood aren’t yet able to achieve the accuracy needed for blood sugar readings, so the hope is that the initial release of this technology will be able to at least tell users if they’re at risk for diabetes.

Apple’s emphasis on health can be seen in the updates the Apple Watch has received recently, including a function to identify sleep apnea and improved vital tracking. Whether your body is a temple or you just like to know how the ol’ ticker is doing, the Apple Watch is turning into one of the best fitness trackers out there.

Patrick Hearn
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
Tim Cook wants you to know he’s confident in Apple’s AI future
Apple's September 2023 event Tim Cook

If you own an iPhone 16 series, you likely purchased it to be among the first to use Apple Intelligence. However, a month after the latest iPhones were released, this highly anticipated AI suite from the largest company in the world has not yet been released to the public. Tim Cook thinks the wait will be worth it.

In a long-ranging interview with The Wall Street Journal, the Apple CEO defends his company’s speed at which it is introducing AI into its products. He also sees a bright future for Apple Vision, even though the first product in a likely series of alternate reality devices, the very expensive Apple Vision Pro, has largely failed to catch on with most users.

Read more
I wore the titanium and aluminum Apple Watch Series 10. This is the one I would buy
A person wearing the titanium Apple Watch Series 10.

For the last few weeks, I’ve worn the latest Apple Watch Series 10 in titanium to find out if it’s the first smartwatch to take me away from only wanting to wear my various quartz and mechanical watches. I wanted to find out if paying more for the titanium version would help it give me that same warm feeling, like meeting up with a good old friend, I get when I put on one of my other favorite watches.

I thought I had the answer quickly, but then things were complicated when the aluminum Series 10 arrived for me to try. It changed my opinion, but was it enough to make me want to return the titanium smartwatch?
It’s not just about the titanium
Titanium Apple Watch Series 10, Milanese Loop band, Reflections watch face Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Read more
Concert overload? Apple Music’s new feature can help you choose
The Apple Music screen on the Apple iPhone 16 Plus.

It's a good time to have ears because there's a lot of amazing music coming out all the time. Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter are churning out catchy earworms left and right. Old favorites like Linkin Park and Breaking Benjamin are making comebacks. If you've already had to choose between concerts this year, it was probably a tough choice — but Apple Music is introducing a new feature that might help you make your decision.

Apple Music will soon have a tool that musicians can use to create specific playlists based on the setlists of their current shows. If several concerts are happening at the same time, you'll be able to look at the setlist and see what songs are being performed. If one artist is playing your favorite album and the other isn't, well, it's an easy choice.

Read more