Apple may have found its diabetes pre-diagnosis Holy Grail

You still need blood for this test – but it’s possible Apple’s tech means you want always need to use it

Following years of development, Apple may have at last found a way to build a non-invasive diabetes sensor that works with its mobile devices.

The Big Idea

This has been a kind of Holy Grail to the company since before it even introduced the first Apple Watch. The report claims work on the project began while Steve Jobs still led the company and that hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in the project.

The idea is that diabetes sufferers wearing the Watch and possibly a second accessory device will be able to access continuous diabetes readings without needing to take a blood sample.

Bloomberg says the company seems to have crossed several milestones that mean it may now be able to introduce the tech, a move which would make Apple Watch an essential tool for one in ten people in the US who suffer from the condition.

What we think we know

Apparently, the tech makes use of a photonics chip and a measurement system called optical absorption spectroscopy. It makes use of lasers and machine intelligence to identify the signs of blood glucose, while algorithms then figure out a person’s blood glucose reading.

The report claims this is now at proof of concept stage with Apple seeking patents to support it. It also seems to suggest the system would require a person wear an additional device around the size of a smartphone to get these readings.

Apple has a bigger ambition, of course.

Prevention beats cure

In line with all its digital health technologies, the company continues to focus on how these tools can prevent against health conditions.

Just as Activity helps promote better heart health, the company wants its diabetes tech to help detect signs of the condition before it becomes a disease. As with so many health problems, early intervention can mitigate what can become a killer condition.

[Also read: Here is why Apple’s Steve Jobs loved to walk and so should you]

Diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges the world has to deal with at this time.

The cost of diabetes

In 2021, around 537 million adults suffered the condition worldwide and this is expected to hit 783 million by 2045. The condition has a cost – health expenditure on managing the condition is predicted to hit $2.5 trillion by 2030, according to 2018 research from King’s College, London.

Within this context, finding ways to pre-diagnose the condition could have huge implications both on people’s lives and health budgets.

Ultimately the first dream of connected health is the creation of products that can warn you before you become unwell – and help treat you if you ever do.

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