Warning against using smartwatches to measure blood sugar levels
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers on Wednesday against using smartwatches or smart rings claiming to measure blood sugar levels without piercing the skin.
The agency noted that this warning applies regardless of the manufacturer of these watches or the brand.
The FDA stated that it is working to ensure that manufacturers, distributors, and sellers do not illegally market unapproved devices claiming to measure blood sugar levels.
It pointed out that these devices differ from smartwatch applications that display data from FDA-approved blood glucose measurement devices and require skin piercing.
It stated that no smartwatch or smart ring specifically designed to measure or estimate blood glucose has been authorized, cleared, or approved by the FDA, and that it has not evaluated their safety or efficacy.
The administration also emphasized that inaccurate readings of blood sugar levels could lead to errors in disease management, including taking an inappropriate dose of insulin or other rapidly lowering blood sugar medications.
