Apple is exploring new frontiers in digital health with an app focused on diabetes preventionas reported by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. This application, while not scheduled for immediate release, could lay the foundation for future advanced features in the Apple ecosystem dedicated to blood sugar management.
The application was tested by a select group of Apple employees diagnosed with prediabetes. These testers had access to a series of tools to improve their lifestyle, such as personalized food recommendations and guides for healthier daily choices. Each participant confirmed their prediabetes status via blood tests, and then began actively monitoring their blood sugar and eating habits.
The main focus of the app is show the impact that different foods and lifestyles can have on blood sugar levels. For example, after a carbohydrate-rich meal, testers observed significant blood sugar spikes. These findings have encouraged more balanced food choices, such as increased protein, to limit blood sugar fluctuations and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Apple used the results of this test to examine how it could integrate blood sugar data and other health-related metrics into its ecosystem. The company has, in fact, been working on non-invasive blood sugar monitoring technology for years, with the aim of incorporating it into the Apple Watch in the future. Currently, most glucose monitoring devices require a finger prick to obtain blood samples, but Apple is developing a solution based on optical absorption spectroscopy and laser, which could allow blood sugar readings without the need to pierce the skin.
Despite the progress, the current prototype is still too large to be incorporated into the Apple Watch, but the project is in the proof-of-concept phase. Further developments will therefore be needed before this monitoring becomes an integrated reality in Apple devices.
Meanwhile, Apple may expand the app’s features Salute to integrate advanced blood sugar monitoring and food logging tools. Integration options with third-party glucose monitoring devices may also be included, further broadening the app’s usefulness for those who need constant monitoring.
News
Source: www.iphoneitalia.com
