Nowadays, diabetic watches (also known as glucose watches) are designed to be worn on the wrist just like a wristwatch. This is a non-invasive procedure where the monitor checks the level of blood glucose by inducing a painless electric shock that draws interstitial fluids from the skin pores in order for them to obtain the blood glucose level.
Besides being painless, and it has no side effects, the devices can be used at any time of day and as regularly as you wish. The monitor records the readings and it can also be set to alarm in case the readings are too low or too high. Diabetic watches have made it quite easy to track changes throughout the day.
Tips for purchasing Diabetic Watches
1. Result speed We are living in a fast-paced society where we want everything to be instant. Therefore, it is vital to purchase a diabetic watch band that guarantees instant results. Most glucose monitoring systems take less than 15 seconds to display the results.
2. Ease of use The display should be large enough in order for results to be clearly displayed and avoid reading errors. This is very helpful, especially for people who have poor eyesight. Keep in mind, that too many buttons or features could turn out to be overwhelming especially for the elderly.
3. Memory In case you want to store the history of your blood sugar readings your diabetes monitoring device must have a memory function. Some glucose monitoring systems also have data ports. This allows diabetes patients to download their historical blood sugar readings to their personal computers for detailed analysis.
4. Batteries Check the charging life of the batteries and the type of batteries required. Some monitors use batteries that are readily available in most stores whereas others use batteries that are only available in specific places.
Diabetic watches and the companies that manufacture them.
1. GlucoTrack This device was developed by Integrity Application and it uses three main technologies: conductivity, heat capacity, and ultrasonic. The device comprises a transmitter, main unit, processor, receiver, and an ear clip that contains sensors.
GlucoTrack DF-F model received CE-Mark approval in June 2013 and the Integrity application can sell this device in all the 28 European member states. Integrity Application hopes to submit GlucoTrack DF-F to regulators in the USA as soon as possible. Also, the company plans to conduct various clinical studies in the USA in the second half of 2014.
2. Symphony Symphony was developed by Echo-Therapeutics and it is a biochemical sensor-based trans-dermal continuous monitoring system that reads and interprets the glucose level measurements.
3. Multi-sensor glucose monitoring system This system was developed by researchers at Solianis Monitoring and it delivers continuous data on blood glucose variations using the OpticalBridge technology.
4. LighTouch Technology This device uses a technology that projects a spectrum of light into the patient’s finger. The device analyzes the colored light that is re-projected from the finger in order to measure the blood glucose level. Although Glucowatch was approved for use in the USA by the FDA in August 2002, this decision was reversed in 2007.
Non-invasive glucose monitoring means that it is not necessary to prick your skin in order to get blood samples. Besides eliminating the pain completely, it is a simple way to avoid the formation of scar tissue. A diabetic watch is a great accessory especially when it comes to taking proper care of diabetes patients. These gadgets and accessories are vital when it comes to
- safe monitoring,
- tracking,
- management of diabetes in order to ensure that other medical problems and complications do not arise.
If left untreated, diabetes can easily cause grave medical complications.
Here at Diabetes Healthy Solutions, we are monitoring the advancements in technology closely, with regard to Diabetic Watches so visit us regularly for further updates.
The Latest in Diabetic Watches 2022
Proper management of diabetes entails keeping track of your blood sugar levels. Diabetic watches offer a reliable way of tracking your blood glucose levels in real time. These watches also allow you to keep an eye on other aspects of your health, including your diet and physical aspects such as exercise and blood pressure which are also important to managing diabetes and other conditions.
Why is it so difficult to monitor blood glucose non-invasively?
The process of keeping track of blood glucose traditionally involves using sensors implanted under the skin or drawing blood to take measurements in real-time. Companies are looking for solutions to these elements and taking the invasive component out of the equation.
These solutions mainly revolve around optical-based methods that are already being used for measuring body temperature, blood oxygen, and heart rate. According to Jake Leach, Dexcom’s chief technology officer, the company is currently working on the 8th generation of its non-invasive device and he reports that the main challenge of measuring blood glucose noninvasively is being able to do it accurately and reliably.
How are big companies trying to make non-invasive blood glucose monitoring possible?
Products currently available on the market show that big players making fitness trackers and smartwatches have been trying to solve the problem of providing glucose monitoring non-invasively from the wrist. Although some companies have been more open about their goals than others to make it a reality, there has been plenty of speculation about others that they have been putting a lot of research hours into this.
-
Apple
Apple is obviously one of the biggest players in the game and it was definitely interested in blood glucose monitoring even before the popular Apple Watch was a thing. It is rumored that Apple CEO Tim Cook was testing out a CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) device even before the release of the Series 3 Apple Watch.
In 2018, Apple won a patent for non-invasive glucose monitoring that uses light-based optical monitors that measures a particular substance in blood and monitors its changes in a bid to determine blood glucose levels.
Recently, there has been speculation that Apple is working on a watch that can track glucose levels and that the company was testing the “stability and reliability” of its functionality before it’s launched. Apple has also secured a deal with Rockley Photonics, a UK startup that develops optical based sensors focused towards delivering blood glucose data.
-
Samsung
Samsung, one of Apple’s biggest rivals wants in on the treasure hunt too. It has already managed to provide blood pressure monitoring and ECG data. There’s also speculation that a Samsung watch that keeps track of blood glucose is in the works. Apparently, Apple is collaborating with MIT to develop glucose monitoring support on its wearable devices.
-
Alphabet
Alphabet and Verily have secured a joint venture with Dexcom to develop a CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) sensor. An update on the partnership shows that they are developing a device embodied in their G7 product. However, the product has not been launched commercially. According to Leach, their collaboration is largely about making their wearables smaller so that they are more comfortable and more convenient to wear. This relationship has yielded some electronics that have allowed them to miniaturize even further with the G7 which is up to 60% smaller, a huge advancement in innovation.
-
Fitbit
Before being acquired by Google, Fitbit was already exploring the possibility of keeping track of blood glucose levels from its devices. The company collaborated with One Drop to help incorporate diabetes management into Fitbit smartwatches. Moreover, a united Healthcare partnership was created, which saw participants given a Dexcom and Fitbit monitor to determine how their diabetes was impacted by activity.
One of Fitbit’s biggest investments in diabetes was a $6 million stake in Sano, a company that is working on a coin-sized, painless patch that tracks your glucose levels. The patch works by reading the interstitial fluid under the skin and is hence painless when getting a reading.
The bottom line
Diabetic watches are both useful and fun and have a wide range of features that some people would never think of. Some smartwatches may even allow users to reply to texts and emails or even answer calls in some cases.
Keeping track of your blood sugar levels doesn’t have to be scary and stressful. Also, there’s no need to settle for bulky and cumbersome watches. Diabetic watches come in a wide variety of prices, models, and styles. Each diabetic watch comes with different features and discovering the best fit for you is not hard considering all the great choices available on the market as well as the prospects for future devices.
