Fitbit is launching 2021 with a useful new feature: blood glucose tracking. The new feature will be widely available throughout February on the Fitbit app for all users in the U.S.
To be clear, this feature is simply to track your blood glucose level; Fitbit devices are not equipped with technology that can read blood glucose directly. By the way, the ability to measure blood sugar could reach conventional wearable devices later this year.
Fitbit says the new feature is being added so that users can more easily track how their blood glucose levels change and how they are affected by everything from food to sleep and other lifestyle choices. Users can define custom intervals, reminders and more. The Fitbit app will give users a view of trends over time.
“In addition to the ability to track blood glucose, Fitbit Premium members will gradually have access to see how often their glucose levels fall within their target range over a 30-day period, along with correlations between when they make a reading and their levels also trends in this data ”, said Fitbit in a blog. “Members can also share their blood glucose levels as part of their Wellness Report with their healthcare provider to help their care team offer more personalized guidance for their treatment.
Fitbit app users can manually enter their blood glucose levels or connect to their LifeScan OneTouch Reveal app, which will automatically import this information. Fitbit said support for other meters and services will be available soon.
A chronic excess of blood sugar can lead to hypertension, strokes and heart attacks, so keeping track of this information is very important, especially for people who have diabetes. Fitbit’s support for tracking is a good way to integrate with other health information provided by the company’s fitness trackers.
The company notes that the new blood glucose feature is not a substitute for medical advice, nor should it be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. “The goal is simply to help monitor and maintain control of your information.”