Apple Watch 'Many Years Away' From Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring

Apple's effort to develop a non-invasive glucose monitoring feature for the Apple Watch has been ongoing for over 15 years, originating from the Steve Jobs era. The goal is to create a sensor that can detect prediabetes, allowing users to take proactive steps to prevent or delay the progression to type 2 diabetes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the feature is still "many years away" from being released. Apple has been testing a health-focused app aimed at diabetes prevention, which could inform future products related to blood sugar management. The company has been developing a method using optical absorption spectroscopy and lasers to determine glucose concentration without puncturing the skin. A silicon photonics chip has been developed to shine light under the skin to measure glucose levels. In 2023, the project reached a proof-of-concept stage, but the functional prototype device was still too large to fit into an Apple Watch. Hundreds of engineers are working on the project in Apple's Exploratory Design Group. Meanwhile, Apple is considering offering a new AI-powered health coaching feature that provides personalized health recommendations and lifestyle improvements. This feature could eventually be part of a future Apple Health+ service.