It has been known for some time that Apple is working to design a reliable system that allows constant evaluation of blood glucose levelan essential test in the daily life of many millions of people who suffer from some kind of diabetes (including gestational diabetes), prediabetes, and which in some cases is also recommended for people with hypertension, overweight, hypercholesterolemia, over 45 years of age and with other risk factors.
Strict monitoring of blood glucose levels is the ideal scenario for anyone who is at risk of their level suddenly rising or falling below safe values, since early action in the event of an episode of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia they can make the difference between a scare and a fatal outcomeand the problem is that there are many internal and external factors that can trigger an episode of this type at any time.
The problem is that these types of tests are invasive, either with a glucometer, which forces the person to carry out periodic check-ups, or with a continuous monitor, which requires the insertion of a sensor under the skin and which, For various reasons, it is not available to everyone. And we must remember that, according to various studies, in 2021 there were 537 million adults with diabetes, and 318 million with prediabetes. And that is little compared to future estimates, which point to 700 million people with diabetes and 482 million with prediabetes by 2045.
Apple, for some years now, has focused the utility of its Apple Watch on health, sports and safety, adding new functions in these regards with each new generation of its smartwatch. From oximetry to the analysis of cardiac data to detect possible health problems, those from Cupertino have been able to take the lead when it comes to quantifying devices, setting the standard that other manufacturers later follow.
With the issue that concerns us in this news, we are undoubtedly in another giant step in this regard, although we must bear in mind that there is still a lot of work ahead. And it is that, as we can read in Bloomberg, Apple has already made a breakthrough in non-invasive glucose measurementto the point of having developed a proof of concept that would be fully functional.
To this end, the prototype, which is currently the size of an iPhone, employs silicon photonics and a measurement process called optical absorption spectroscopy. The system uses lasers that emit specific wavelengths of light into an area under the skin where interstitial fluid (substances that leak from capillaries) is present and can be absorbed by glucose. The light is then reflected back to the sensor in a way that indicates the glucose concentration, and by reading the data, an algorithm determines the blood glucose level.
There are still a few years left for this technology to reach the Apple Watch, because as I indicated before, the size of the current proof of concept is similar to that of the company’s smartphone, so there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of its miniaturization and Of course, maintaining its current effectiveness during it. However, the very fact of having been able to prove that a permanent monitor can be started with these elements is, without a doubt, excellent news for many people.
