According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the inclusion of blood glucose monitoring into the Apple Watch's features will take several years.
Apple's noninvasive blood glucose monitoring software for the Apple Watch is said to have made significant improvements. Diabetic patients and others will be able to test their blood glucose levels without the need for a skin prick.
Apple's technology includes a silicon photonics chip that detects glucose concentration by optical absorption spectroscopy.
Apple's primary goal for the monitor is to be a wearable gadget that can alert individuals if they're prediabetic, while also allowing them to make lifestyle changes to avoid full-blown diabetes. It's still in the early stages of development.
The current prototype device measures about the size of an iPhone and can be worn on a user's arm. A previous version is said to have required a tabletop.
Apple "still needs to perfect the algorithms and on-board sensors" in order to bring the product to market, according to Gurman. This process "will take another three to seven years at least."
Apple has previously worked with Rockley Photonics to develop sensors and chips for glucose monitoring.
