Apple’s suppliers are currently developing components for next-gen sensors that will enable blood glucose level monitoring on the upcoming Apple Watch Series 8 smartwatch.
The report from Digitimes reveals that Apple and its suppliers have already begun working on short-wavelength infrared sensors – a commonly used sensor type for health devices. The suppliers in question are Ennostar and Taiwan Asia Semiconductor. The new sensor will likely be installed on the back of the watch, allowing it to measure the sugar and glucose content in its wearer’s blood.
Apple has continued to add useful health features with its iteration of its Watch Series, the most recent being blood oxygen monitoring with the Apple Watch Series 6. As a result, Apple Watch Series 7 can now measure/detect a slew of health-related variables including ECG, falls, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and much more.
Blood glucose levels are typically measured through a finger-prick test which requires a glucose monitor to come in direct contact with blood. But the Apple Watch Series 8 can turn out to be a game-changer for diabetic patients if it does indeed come with accurate blood glucose monitoring.
That said, the implementation of the feature hasn’t come without its challenges. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, turning a typically invasive medical practice into a non-invasive one isn’t exactly a walk in the park.
The recently released iOS 15 update did add a blood glucose health metric to the Health app but it requires manual input of data. The addition of a glucose monitoring feature on the next Apple Watch can change that though.
Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch Series 8 in the 2022 fall season.
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