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The Apple Watch has long been more than just a smartwatch. It measures your heart rate, counts your steps, tracks your workouts, and reminds you to get up or do breathing exercises. Apple is constantly striving to set new standards, especially in the health sector. One feature that many users have been hoping for for years is non-invasive blood glucose monitoring. Apple is working on it—but you'll have to wait a few more years until it's actually included in the watch.
For over 15 years, Apple has been trying to develop technology that measures blood sugar without having to pierce your skin. The idea isn't new—it even dates back to the time when Steve Jobs led the company. The goal back then was to build a sensor that could detect whether someone was prediabetic—that is, whether their blood sugar level was elevated without them having diabetes. This would allow users to take early action to prevent or at least delay the disease.
What Apple has tried so far
Currently, almost all blood glucose meters rely on a small prick in the skin. This is cumbersome and expensive in the long run. Apple wants to solve the whole problem completely without needles – using optical absorption spectroscopy and laser light. The technology will use a laser to shine through the skin and thus measure the glucose concentration in the tissue. A silicon photonics chip was specially developed for this purpose. Development work is being carried out in Apple's so-called Exploratory Design Group (XDG). According to a report by Bloomberg, hundreds of engineers are working on the topic there. In 2023, Apple reportedly built a working prototype of this technology – although it is still far too large to be incorporated into the Apple Watch. So progress has been made, but the crucial miniaturization required to fit the whole thing into a device is still missing.
App for prevention was already in the works
According to previous reports from Bloomberg, Apple has also been testing an app to help prevent diabetes. This app was intended as a companion feature to its long-term hardware plans. In October 2023, Mark Gurman stated that this app could evaluate certain health data and provide recommendations for lifestyle changes. However, it is uncertain whether it will ever become a finished product for users (via Bloomberg).
What else is Apple planning
In addition to blood glucose monitoring, Apple is working on other health features. Gurman recently reported that Apple is planning AI-based health coaching. This coaching will provide personalized recommendations that can impact your daily routine, diet, or activity behavior. The feature could become part of a future Apple Health+ offering. Here, too, the focus is clearly on prevention and long-term health support.
Blood glucose monitoring: Apple has a plan – but no finished product yet
If you're waiting for the Apple Watch to display your blood sugar without having to prick yourself, you'll have to be patient. Apple is working hard on the technology, but it's not yet ready for market. Initial prototypes exist, and the technical foundations are in place—but a functioning system that fits into a smartwatch isn't yet complete. The vision is clear: an Apple Watch that not only measures training data, but can also provide early assistance in serious health issues like diabetes. But it will likely be several years before you see your blood sugar levels on the watch face. (Photo by Unsplash / Samuel Angor)
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