Can a smartwatch really keep tabs on your blood sugar?

Written by: Nancy Dixit Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra

[{"selector":"#anim-c29784c4-3245-49e6-9fd8-a7d566cf75ad","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-223c577d-0803-46fe-b6cd-dcbefcb35f4e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 129.34473%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Smartwatches are evolving from fitness trackers to potential health game-changers. But can they reliably monitor blood sugar levels? Lets find out! Photo Credit: Shutterstock

FDA Approval Status

[{"selector":"#anim-f6daacf9-6697-4e53-94e9-e5effd6c36d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac504664-266c-465b-a21b-fdd14a79cf2b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.46329%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fdf64c80-ba47-46ce-9f30-5f26515a01a2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6712956-00a1-4f79-a624-3c520203cb6c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 716.81627%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Did you know? No blood glucose smartwatch or ring has been FDA-approved yet. They’re still in the experimental phase! Video Credit: Pexels

Are They Accurate?

[{"selector":"#anim-2995264a-5d9d-4e54-8f39-cdcfa6a67331","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ee91a91-3c19-4e0d-8a16-9976f263ab1b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 126.26779%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de36a904-56ec-481d-b474-1f0daa78db89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-097d3ab2-2d40-4744-84ab-5247d1c39267","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 692.49197%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Accuracy varies across devices. Promising studies exist, but research is still in its early stages. Trustworthy glucose readings? Not quite there yet. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

The Safer Choice

[{"selector":"#anim-89a438bf-c268-469e-8e5d-93deeaeafc4b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-488e8101-cfee-4f17-8ff4-4808f337972f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 111.46463%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46ee56b4-5f0d-4f78-ae8f-1403e2a4b842","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4fa5fc4a-9f9d-4d21-9638-16f58cfb9eaf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 630.32974%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] For diabetes management, stick to FDA-cleared devices like glucometers or CGMs. These are tested for both safety and effectiveness. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Factors That Affect Accuracy

[{"selector":"#anim-a444009a-18a0-4a71-aa02-c6c9022a260f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf3a63e2-0624-4d1b-b40c-3b2076ca3036","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 126.01010%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-94a29374-ca94-4e33-8288-9c5d5fb3335b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e8e8166-6e72-44d1-8ede-90fb1b60b7c6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.67956%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Skin condition, device placement, and individual differences can impact accuracy, though manufacturers continue refining algorithms to improve reliability. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

The Future Looks Bright

[{"selector":"#anim-dae8620f-5ca6-41cb-88b7-159ebf538602","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5aeadd9e-d31e-43e2-93fc-ac3be5a587bb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 110.55555%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3ea4e89-9e3b-41f3-a3f3-722d70dd6b2d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5ace4e3-6203-4e00-b07c-084775ccd88f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 423.85606%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The tech isn’t perfect yet, but advancements are on the horizon. Blood glucose smartwatches could soon become a reliable tool for monitoring health. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Remember!

[{"selector":"#anim-5e8bcce9-22f4-4e39-8dfc-ea186629cf0a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-074e1388-166b-41a2-a452-ea204975a737","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.61535%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2bd95d6b-0d7c-4005-a4a7-a46625d28e21","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-22198152-3139-44dc-972e-49dab83242db","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 630.32974%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] While these devices sound exciting, they’re not ready to replace traditional tools. Stay informed and prioritize FDA-approved solutions! Photo Credit: Shutterstock

SHOW US SOME

[{"selector":"#anim-7ac437d6-f267-40a4-a3d4-f68e9db17479","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75ea42c0-7150-4610-91a0-632dff76d690","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -931.94502%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33af4cdb-a975-4ed2-8c0d-86503f7159d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52377417-8c88-4370-a489-b3afc1f13a4b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -612.60032%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Video Credit: Pexels 6 Best hair growth vitamins If you found this helpful,