The Apple Watch will have the ability to track glucose levels in diabetics, with the development of a new application.
Dexcom is a company that manufactures monitors for diabetes, and they have now assisted in the development of glucose tracking abilities in the new wearable device. A thin sensor, implanted under skin, monitors blood glucose levels, and the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) transmits the information to the watch once every five minutes.
Blood sugar levels sent to the watch can be displayed in the form of a graph, allowing users to track their glucose levels over time.
The new CGM will also be able to integrate with Apple's Healthkit platform, which is designed for fitness purposes. That app is now being adopted by hospitals at a faster rate than S Health from Samsung or Google Fit.
The CGM is considered a Class 3 medical device under FDA rules, making it subject to regulation by the agency. However, new guidelines state that apps and software only need to be registered with the government, allowing the products to reach the public more quickly.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently gave its approval to Dexcom's G4 Platinum Continuous Glucose Monitoring System, which can transmit data to smartphones.
"The Dexcom Share receiver represents a significant step forward for our company and our mobile strategy, but more importantly, it will provide a huge improvement for people managing their diabetes and for those parents and caregivers who help them each and every day," Kevin Sayer, president and chief executive officer of Dexcom, said.
Diabetes is a disease marked by higher-than-normal blood sugar levels in the bloodstream. The condition is found in two major forms - type one and type two. Type one, formerly known as juvenile-onset diabetes, is found in around five percent of those with the disease, and is usually diagnosed in childhood. Type two is usually associated with obesity, and does not usually require insulin to manage. Those with type one diabetes need to carefully monitor their blood sugar levels, in order to protect their health from a variety of problems.
"Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States," the CDC reports.
The new Apple Watch is scheduled to be released in April 2015, at the same time as the new health monitoring software. App developers are starting to reveal more capabilities of the device than Apple has, so far, been willing to reveal.
