Apple again reported to be working on blood glucose monitoring for Apple Watch

A new report claims that suppliers are developing a blood glucose monitor with Apple, using short-wavelength infrared sensors intended for the Apple Watch.

Apple has repeatedly been predicted to be adding a blood glucose monitoring system to Apple Watch, to the extent that it was at one point strongly, and erroneously, rumored to be in the Apple Watch Series 7. Now a new report repeats similar rumors, but also says that Apple is working with component suppliers on a particular technique.

According to Digitimes, companies Ennostar and Taiwan Asia Semiconductor (TAS, formerly Opto Tech) are working on components that will use short-wavelength infrared LED. The system would reportedly be used for several types of biosensing, including blood glucose.

Digitimes has a strong record for its industry sources, however it also has a far poorer one for the conclusions it draws from that information.

This report, however, does fit with one prior patent application from Apple, which describes a similar system.

Plus, Apple supplier Rockley Photonics has more recently demonstrated a prototype using infrared spectrophotometers. The prototype is intended for other health companies to use as a reference design, but images of it show the wrist device having an Apple Watch band.

9 Comments

dk49 284 comments · 9 Years

About 3 years ago

Any report on when are we likely to see this tech in the Apple watch?

jkichline 1369 comments · 14 Years

Please do this Apple! As someone who wears a Libre Freestyle, I can tell you this makes all the difference in diabetics to manage their sugar. But having to put one on every 14 days if it even stays on that long is expensive. I will once again wear an Apple watch because that would be world-changing for me.

rcfa 1123 comments · 17 Years

dk49 said:

Any report on when are we likely to see this tech in the Apple watch?

IF (and only if) the rumors are true, and they begin manufacturing now, that would mean with AppleWatch 8 in a little bit less than a year.

Of course, when the software actually supports the functionality is an entirely different question, as that might depend on regulatory approval…

crazyexcalibur 35 comments · 3 Years

Rumors are always the same. Apple working on next iPhone without notch. Apple working on glucose monitor for watch. Apple working on next iPhone with Face ID and Touch ID. Apple working on bigger iPad. It’s like a spaghetti of wish lists until something sticks and then it’s…I told you.

rcfa said:

dk49 said:

Any report on when are we likely to see this tech in the Apple watch?

IF (and only if) the rumors are true, and they begin manufacturing now, that would mean with AppleWatch 8 in a little bit less than a year.
Of course, when the software actually supports the functionality is an entirely different question, as that might depend on regulatory approval…

Yes as always that's a big IF. Though the report also mentions "several types of biosensing including blood glucose". Wonder what those other bio sensors are? If these other biosensing techniques also debut along with the blood glucose monitor in the watch 8, it will be a huge upgrade. People will be dumping their existing apple watches to get the series 8. Though given Apple's history, I doubt that they will debut multiple major health sensors in the same iteration.