It looks like the Apple Watch Series 7 will feature blood glucose monitoring

According to the Apple Watch Series 7, blood sugar will be monitored via an optical sensor ETNews.

The report, which focuses primarily on the blood glucose capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, explains that Apple intends to bring blood glucose monitoring into the future Apple Watch Series 7 using a non-invasive optical sensor.

Measuring blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, is vital for managing conditions such as diabetes. Normally, measuring your blood sugar requires testing a drop of blood in a blood sugar meter or using a continuous implanted glucose monitor (CGM). The ability to observe any major increase or decrease in blood sugar may increase awareness of a potential health condition or simply help improve a user’s diet.

Apple is said to have obtained patents on blood glucose monitoring, and now the company is supposed to “focus on ensuring reliability and stability before marketing the technology.” The optical sensor designed by Apple is considered to be a continuous monitoring solution that does not require an implant.

Rumors suggest that Apple has been interested in adding blood glucose monitoring to the Apple Watch for some time. The company reportedly set up a team of biomedical engineers and consultants working specifically on sensors for noninvasive monitoring of blood sugar levels in 2017, and sensor work has progressed in San Francisco Bay Area clinical trials. Apple CEO Tim Cook was even spotted testing what was believed to be a prototype glucose monitor connected to the Apple Watch.

Apple has added new health-oriented features to the Apple Watch in recent years, such as the ability to measure blood oxygen levels or take an ECG. Late last year, Tim Cook teased the future Apple Watch, saying that the device is still “at the beginning of the half”, testing Apple’s “mind” capabilities in its labs. “Think about the amount of sensors in your car,” Cook said, adding, “and without a doubt, your body is much more important than your car.”

The Apple Watch Series 7 is expected to arrive later this year, but there have been few rumors about what the new models might feature. Although there have been reports of microLED displays and solid-state buttons with haptic feedback for the Apple Watch, they are not directly expected for the Apple Watch Series 7.