The Apple Watch Series 10, recently announced, has generated significant interest regarding its potential for blood glucose monitoring. However, as of now, Apple has not integrated a native blood glucose sensor into the device.
Current Glucose Monitoring Options
While Apple is reportedly working on non-invasive blood glucose monitoring technology, it is not yet available in the Series 10. Instead, users can utilize external devices like the Dexcom G7, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that can sync directly with the Apple Watch. This integration allows users to receive real-time glucose data on their watch without needing to rely on their iPhone nearby[1][4].Future Prospects
Apple's ambitions in this area are notable, as they aim to develop a method for measuring blood glucose levels non-invasively, potentially using infrared and other sensors. However, experts suggest that achieving accurate non-invasive glucose monitoring is still several years away due to the complexities involved in the technology[2][3]. Some estimates indicate it could take another decade before such features are reliably implemented in consumer devices like the Apple Watch[2].Summary
In summary, while the Apple Watch Series 10 does not currently offer blood glucose monitoring capabilities directly from Apple, it supports external devices that provide this functionality. The future may hold more advanced features as Apple continues to explore non-invasive monitoring technologies, but significant challenges remain before these can be realized in a practical and accurate manner.Citations:
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKlDurt89FQ
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/comments/1c6qwzg/how_far_away_are_we_from_blood_glucose_monitoring/
[3] https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-watch-x-series-10-all-the-upgrades-apple-will-likely-reveal-tomorrow/
[4] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/09/introducing-apple-watch-series-10/
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEqlVuJoHeA
[6] https://www.apple.com/healthcare/apple-watch/
[7] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-07-07/apple-watch-series-10-ultra-3-details-bigger-screens-blood-pressure-challenge-lybjqp0q
[8] https://gsmarena.com/bloomberg_apple_watch_series_10_to_gain_blood_pressure_and_sleep_apnea_monitoring_-news-60457.php
The Apple Watch Series 10 does not include blood oxygen monitoring for models sold in the United States[2][3]. This is due to an ongoing patent dispute between Apple and medical device company Masimo, which forced Apple to disable the blood oxygen feature on the Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches sold in the U.S. late last year[2].
However, the Series 10 will still include the blood oxygen sensor hardware[5]. It's unclear if the feature is disabled via software or if there was a hardware change for U.S. models[2]. The rest of the world will be able to access blood oxygen monitoring on the Series 10[2].
If blood oxygen tracking is important to you, it may be best to wait before upgrading to the Series 10 in the U.S.[3] For most users though, the lack of this feature likely won't be a significant drawback, as it's not a measurement many people utilize regularly[3]. The Series 10 does introduce other new health features like sleep apnea detection[3][4].
Citations:[1] https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255753458
[2] https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/10/apple-watch-blood-oxygen-detection-wont-be-available-on-the-series-10-in-the-u-s/
[3] https://www.theverge.com/24246464/apple-watch-series-10-review-smartwatch-wearables
[4] https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-watch-x-series-10-all-the-upgrades-apple-will-likely-reveal-tomorrow/
[5] https://www.apple.com/eg/apple-watch-series-10/specs/
[6] https://www.apple.com/ca/apple-watch-series-10/specs/
[7] https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-watch-series-10/why-apple-watch/
[8] https://www.wired.com/review/apple-watch-series-10/