Blood Glucose Monitoring Blood Sugar smart watch

Archergirl

Looking to get my husband a smart watch for his birthday, he is a type 2 diabetic and I notice some watches can check blood sugars  but the reviews are sketchy, has anyone here tried one please? 

Flugelhorn

Is this using the freestyle monitors? people use smartphones to read the levels https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/diabetes-technology/cgm-flash-pump-who-qualifies-on-nhs

Heedtheadvice

There are two types/methods of monitoring the freestyle blood sugar levels....as far as I know.

A relative has the type that has a skin mounted sensor with a needle to measure sugar levels via a dedicated monitor unit.

I understand that there is a version that can be monitored via a smart phone ..so presumably  a smart watch too. Take care that is the case as there have been reports of no communication with some phones following  software updates.

Freestyle works well with the odd user minor grumble with gives continuing near real time monitoring and more. I know of one instance my relative got early warning  of a hypo !! and it is great to monitor levels 24/7. You do not get that with finger !!!!!!.....

Not sure how a smart watch by itself would monitor blood sugar levels or how accurate that might be, if possible....

Archergirl

Not sure how a smart watch by itself would monitor blood sugar levels or how accurate that might be, if possible....

Yes that's exactly what I was wondering.......

RumRat

Archergirl said:

Not sure how a smart watch by itself would monitor blood sugar levels or how accurate that might be, if possible....

Yes that's exactly what I was wondering.......

Wonder no more.................        K'Watch Glucose - PKVitality  

DullGreyGuy

Heedtheadvice said:

There are two types/methods of monitoring the freestyle blood sugar levels....as far as I know.

A relative has the type that has a skin mounted sensor with a needle to measure sugar levels via a dedicated monitor unit.

I understand that there is a version that can be monitored via a smart phone ..so presumably  a smart watch too. Take care that is the case as there have been reports of no communication with some phones following  software updates.

Freestyle works well with the odd user minor grumble with gives continuing near real time monitoring and more. I know of one instance my relative got early warning  of a hypo !! and it is great to monitor levels 24/7. You do not get that with finger !!!!!!.....

Not sure how a smart watch by itself would monitor blood sugar levels or how accurate that might be, if possible....

It's the same thing not different versions... there are three versions of the LibreFreestyle sensor by Abbot, only 1 and 2 can you buy privately, 3 is only on prescription at the moment. 2 introduced longer range monitoring via smartphone or dedicated monitor so you could set 24/7 alarms. 

Given most wear the sensor on their arms and alternate which arm it is on each week it would be a bit of a pain reading it every other week when it's on the same arm as the watch. Not had so good an experience with the longer range reading but then the Mrs always messes with turning bluetooth off etc  so could be self inflicted.

There has been talk for some time of Apple (and therefore inevitably Samsung etc) trying to develop mechanisms for the watch itself to be able to monitor blood glucose directly without the need for another sensor. You can see articles like https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-takes-key-step-towards-bring-blood-glucose-tracking-to-apple-watch/ where they started patenting some ideas in the space in 2021 but they've not yet got to the point of formal testing as a medical device as far as I am aware.

Heedtheadvice

Thanks both for the additions and clarification.

I note from the web site Rumrat added, that particular watch is still in dev mode but has been doing clinical trials.

It look like it could be yet another good step forward for monitoring.

Interesting to learn that the freestyle 2 can do remote monitoring via bluetooth. Will have to investigate! My relative does not have many issues with the freestyle. Goes swimming so uses extra patches to improve water proofing (otherwise a time limitations on sensor) and sometimes forgets to keep the monitor close at hand but otherwise of great benefit. NHS provided.

Not sure any of this provides the answer Archergirl was hoping for but there is hope for the future.

PinkPlane

Would be cool if this was available:

https://www.macrumors.com/2023/03/26/apple-watch-blood-glucose-up-to-seven-years-away/