When Apple first announced the upcoming Apple Watch last September, it gave us a sense of how its latest device will integrate into its Healthkit platform. As the launch gets ever closer, developers are now starting to give us a better glimpse at exactly what the Apple Watch will be able to do. DexCom, a company that makes monitors for diabetics, this week showed off a solution that will both monitor a person’s blood-sugar levels and display the results on a graph via an app on the Apple Watch.
DexCom’s solution involves a hair’s-width sensor embedded under the skin. It will measure blood glucose levels every five minutes and send that data back to the app which converts the information into an easy to read graph that will update regularly. The app is also expected to integrate with Apple’s Healthkit platform.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration agency recently eased some rules involving Class III medical devices. While DexCom’s glucose monitor will still need FDA approval, the app with which it works will not although it will still need to be registered. In the past, both hardware and associated software were treated as Class III medical devices and required separate approvals. As a result, it will be easier for DexCom to have its solution ready in time for the Apple Watch launch.
A very similar solution already exists for the Pebble smartwatch. The Nightscout CGM system is an open source project that also uses a DexCom sensor. The collected data is uploaded to the Internet where it can be viewed using a Pebble app or a smartphone or tablet app.
The Apple Watch is set to begin shipping in April. Pricing will start at US$349 for the entry-level Apple Watch collection.
Source : The Wall Street Journal