FDA warns about smartwatches, rings to measure glucose
Smartwatches and smart rings that claim to measure blood glucose levels without piercing the skin are being sold commercially, but none have been approved by the FDA, the agency warned.
The FDA recently issued a warning to patients, caregivers, and clinicians against using smartwatches or smart rings that claim to measure blood glucose levels without piercing the skin.
These devices are different than smartwatch applications that display data from FDA-authorized blood glucose measuring devices that pierce the skin, the agency noted. The FDA has not authorized, cleared, or approved any smartwatch or smart ring that is intended to measure or estimate blood glucose values on its own. A press release from the FDA reports that such devices are currently manufactured by dozens of companies and sold under multiple brand names.
Clinicians should talk to patients about the risks of using unauthorized blood glucose measuring devices and help them select an appropriate, FDA-authorized device, if needed, the agency said.