No, smartwatches and smart rings can’t measure blood glucose yet


If you see a smartwatch or smart ring for sale that claims to noninvasively measure your blood glucose levels, don’t believe it. Today, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a safety communication that warns consumers, patients, and healthcare professionals that the agency has “not authorized, cleared, or approved any smartwatch or smart ring that is intended to measure or estimate blood glucose values on its own.”
To be crystal clear, no major wearable maker has a smartwatch or smart ring that’s currently capable of this. The most any Apple Watch, Fitbit, Samsung watch, or Oura Ring can do is support integrations with an FDA-authorized continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which are wearable devices that use needles to read blood sugar levels. These integrations allow users to monitor data gathered from connected CGMs that have companion smartphone apps. The Dexcom G7 is one such device.
Instead of those well-known wearables, the FDA’s warning seems to target scammy devices making unsubstantiated claims.
Unfortunately, you can find unscrupulous companies at trade shows like CES hawking smart rings and smartwatches that claim to take noninvasive blood glucose measurements. These companies then sell these devices directly on their websites, through crowdfunded campaigns, or on online marketplaces like Alibaba. If you do see companies selling such devices, the FDA urges consumers to report the issue through its MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form.
It bears repeating that you should be skeptical of any wearable claiming to have FDA approval. In general, smartwatches and smart rings can have FDA-cleared features (i.e., EKGs and atrial fibrillation detection), but they are not considered medical devices and shouldn’t be treated as such.
If you see a smartwatch or smart ring for sale that claims to noninvasively measure your blood glucose levels, don’t believe it. Today, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a safety communication that warns consumers, patients, and healthcare professionals that the agency has “not authorized, cleared, or approved any…
Recent Posts
- Everything new on Disney+ in March 2025: Marvel’s Daredevil: Born Again, Moana 2, Sadie Sink’s O’Dessa movie, and more
- The best Apple Watch in 2025
- Volvo ES90 will charge faster, drive farther than other Volvo EVs
- The truth about GenAI security: your business can’t afford to “wait and see”
- H&R Block Coupons and Deals: 20% Off Tax Prep in 2025
Archives
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- September 2018
- October 2017
- December 2011
- August 2010