Apple is reportedly still working on glucose management — this time through software. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says the company tested the program this year helps manage diet and lifestyle for pre-diabetics. Apple is said to have no plans to roll out the app to consumers, but it could play a role in future health products.
The company reportedly tested the app internally and confirmed that employees were at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes through a blood test. Subjects “actively monitored their blood sugar through a variety of commercially available devices,” noting corresponding glucose changes. The app will then record correlations between dietary changes and blood sugar levels (for example, “don’t eat pasta”).
Gurman says Apple stopped the test to focus on other health features. Bloomberg notes that Apple Health does not currently have food tracking offers competing services. The publication also reports that Apple may eventually offer deeper third-party glucose tracking integration into its products.
The research is reportedly not directly related to Apple’s 15-year search non-invasive blood glucose monitoringsomething that recurs in Apple Watch rumors every cycle. The company is said to have a current hardware prototype An iPhone-sized wearable device uses lasers to shine light on the skin. Gurman argues that Apple’s first consumer-facing version — whether it’s the Apple Watch or some other form — will likely only alert users if they’re pre-diabetic. Ensuring specific glucose levels should be in subsequent iterations.
