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The Smartwatch Blood Sugar Race: Apple, Samsung, Garmin, and Oura Compared

AI-generated analysis

πŸ“± Apple, Samsung, Garmin, and Oura are all competing to offer blood sugar tracking features on their smartwatches and rings.

⚠️ No mainstream smartwatch or ring can currently directly measure blood glucose without a separate sensor.

πŸ₯ The US FDA has warned consumers not to rely on watches that claim to measure blood sugar independently.

πŸ’‰ Wearables are splitting into two categories: devices that display data from approved Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) and future noninvasive sensors.

πŸ”— Apple Watch can now display glucose data from Dexcom's G7 system directly, but it does not measure glucose itself.

⌚ Samsung Galaxy Watch supports health tracking but requires an external CGM for blood sugar monitoring.

πŸƒ Garmin watches integrate with Dexcom via Connect IQ to help athletes manage fueling and safety during training.

πŸ’ Oura Ring partners with Dexcom's Stelo CGM to contextualize glucose data alongside sleep and activity metrics.

πŸ“‰ Blood glucose is harder to measure than heart rate because the signal is weaker and clinical errors can be dangerous.

πŸ€– The most realistic near-term progress will come from software integrations combining CGM data with AI insights rather than standalone sensors.

🀝 Partnerships between wearable makers and CGM companies like Dexcom and Abbott are driving current market developments.

πŸ”¬ Apple and Samsung remain the primary targets for a future noninvasive breakthrough in wrist-based glucose monitoring.

⏳ Until an FDA-cleared feature is announced, smartwatches can only display data from external sensors, not measure it.

πŸ“ˆ The industry continues to race toward this goal despite the current lack of a winner or standalone solution.

Bullish Signals
  • Apple Watch can now display glucose readings from Dexcom's G7 system directly in the US, allowing users to view data without needing their iPhone nearby.
  • Dexcom has partnered with Apple Watch and Oura to make glucose data easier to access and understand through integrations rather than standalone sensors.
  • Samsung Health supports comprehensive diabetes management features including blood sugar logs, medication tracking, meals, sleep, stress, and activity monitoring.
  • Garmin watches are popular with endurance athletes and can display glucose data from compatible Dexcom CGM devices via Connect IQ for valuable training insights.
  • Oura Ring integrates with Dexcom's Stelo CGM to contextualize glucose data alongside sleep, stress, activity, and other wellness metrics.
  • Abbott's over-the-counter Lingo CGM has opened the door for more consumer wellness integrations across various wearable ecosystems.
  • Apple continues to expand its health-focused features globally, recently bringing its AFib History feature to users in China as part of a broader push into medical tracking.
  • Samsung and Mass General are studying whether Galaxy Watch8 data can help doctors monitor muscle loss during GLP-1 weight-loss treatment more closely.
  • Meta is reportedly developing an AI pendant as part of a broader wearable hardware push that includes smart glasses and workplace tools.
Risk Factors
  • The US Food and Drug Administration issued a 2024 safety warning stating that no smartwatch or smart ring is authorized to measure or estimate blood glucose values independently, as inaccurate readings could lead to dangerous medication errors for people with diabetes.
  • Garmin watches do not directly measure glucose; they act only as a display layer for Dexcom CGM data, meaning the company cannot offer standalone blood sugar monitoring capabilities.
  • Until Apple or Samsung announces an FDA-cleared feature for direct wrist-based glucose monitoring, consumers must assume Garmin smartwatches can only display data from external sensors and cannot measure blood sugar on their own.
Full Analysis
Apple, Samsung, Garmin, and Oura are all competing in the smartwatch blood sugar tracking market, but current technology relies on Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) rather than direct measurement by the watch itself. The US Food and Drug Administration issued a 2024 safety warning stating that no smartwatch or smart ring is authorized to measure or estimate blood glucose values independently, as inaccurate readings could lead to dangerous medication errors for people with diabetes. Consequently, the industry has split into two lanes: devices that display data from approved CGMs like those from Dexcom and Abbott, and future devices that may eventually achieve noninvasive measurement. Apple Watch users can now view glucose data from the Dexcom G7 system directly on their wrist without needing an iPhone nearby, though the watch itself does not measure blood sugar. Similarly, Samsung's Galaxy Watch supports health tracking but requires external CGMs for glucose monitoring, and Garmin watches act as a display layer for Dexcom integrations to help athletes manage fueling and safety during training. Oura Ring takes a different approach by partnering with Dexcom's Stelo CGM to contextualize glucose data alongside sleep, stress, and activity metrics within its app ecosystem. The fundamental challenge remains that blood glucose is harder to measure than heart rate due to weaker signals and higher clinical sensitivity, making accuracy critical for medical decisions. While researchers are exploring noninvasive methods involving light and machine learning, the most realistic near-term progress will likely come from tighter software integrations between wearable makers and CGM companies rather than standalone sensors. Until Apple or Samsung announces an FDA-cleared feature for direct wrist-based glucose monitoring, consumers should assume their smartwatches can only display data from external sensors and cannot measure blood sugar on their own.