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Smartwatches can be a great tool to help people living with diabetes maintain a healthy lifestyle.
These devices help you manage your diet, heart rate, calorie intake, and even stress levels.
Currently, smartwatches cannot directly monitor blood sugar levels, and the FDA has warned against using watches or rings that claim to measure blood sugar levels. However, you can link an external CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) system to your smartwatch to measure your blood sugar levels.
I’ve done a lot of research to find the best smartwatch for diabetics and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about smartwatches.
smart watch reviews
In my opinion, these are the five best smartwatches for diabetics on the market today.
most features
apple watch
Apple has a number of apps to help people with diabetes manage their condition, including Sugar Sense, Glucose Buddy, and Diabetes Tracker.
More importantly, you can link your watch to the Dexcom CGM to view blood sugar data even if you don’t have an iPhone. This is the first and currently only smartwatch that connects directly to Dexcom through the official Dexcom app.
You can also link other CGM brands like Freestyle Libre to your Apple Watch through third-party apps like LibreWatch and Nightguard.
- Connect to Dexcom CGM – view blood sugar data on your wrist
- The only smartwatch that can directly link to Dexcom CGM (Apple watch 6 and later)
- Large, durable display – easy to read and resistant to damage
- More expensive than other watches with similar features
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cutting edge
samsung galaxy watch 6
Samsung Galaxy 6 has a durable sapphire crystal glass surface.
This smartwatch allows you to see your Dexcom blood sugar readings and trends over time. The watch connects to your Android smartphone, but you need to carry your Android phone with you to see readings on the watch.
The Galaxy 6 also has a number of watch faces to choose from and includes features like sleep coaching and a bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor (BIA) that reads body fat, skeletal muscle, body water, and basal metabolic rate.
The watch automatically detects many popular activities such as running and swimming, and uses GPS functionality to track outdoor sports. Galaxy 6 also offers enhanced GPS functionality with voice navigation on your wrist.
- Connect to Dexcom CGM (using a third party app)
- Enhanced body composition analysis including weight and metabolic rate
- advanced sleep coaching
- Some features are exclusive to the Samsung ecosystem
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garmin veene 4
For those who don’t need Apple products, the Garmin smartwatch is a strong competitor to the Apple Watch.
Garmin offers an official Dexcom widget, so if you have a compatible smartphone, you can see your blood sugar readings directly on your Garmin Venu 4.
It comes with a number of health features relevant to people living with diabetes, including a heart rate monitor, abnormal heart rate alert, stress monitoring, relaxation reminder, and sleep coach feature.
We also offer a pulse oximeter, which measures the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream, and an electrocardiogram.
The Garmin Venu 4 has a battery life of 11 hours and up to 14 days when the watch remains in smartwatch mode.
It’s “swim resistant” and allows you to make calls and send text messages directly from the watch.
- Connect to Dexcom CGM – view blood sugar data on your wrist
- Many high-tech features
- Ideal for tracking different types of exercise
- bulky watch
- Battery life may be shortened
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buying guide
Can smartwatches reliably display health data?
Smartwatches can display blood sugar levels, but they cannot measure them themselves. You will need to link to an external CGM system to obtain blood glucose information, but the accuracy and reliability will be comparable to the CGM you use.
With the exception of Apple Watch 6 and newer, your watch must be connected to your phone to view blood sugar readings, so you’ll still need to carry your phone with you.
Besides blood sugar data, smartwatches can help diabetics manage a healthy lifestyle. They can examine your calorie intake, meal plans, heart rate, sleep patterns, and stress levels.
While these benefits sound amazing, keep in mind that none of these devices are 100% accurate. Still, it’s a good idea to choose brands like Samsung, Fitbit, Garmin, and Apple. Although these are more expensive, the device is more accurate than cheaper options.
In most cases, you will have to part with more money to get a more reliable smartwatch.
Furthermore, the accuracy of a smartwatch varies depending on the position of the watch and the stability of your wrist. Your arm and wrist should be kept as stable as possible when measuring your heart rate and blood pressure.
Any movement can affect the measurement process and lead to inaccurate results.
Current CGM devices that work with smartwatches
Below are some of the CGM devices that can currently be linked to smartwatches. You should consider these options before purchasing a smartwatch.
Dexcom G6 &G7
Dexcom’s G6 and G7 models are the brand’s newest glucose monitors. They use sensors to continuously measure blood sugar levels over a 10-day period. The sensor has a small needle that reaches into the interstitial fluid beneath the skin and is held in place by an adhesive patch on the skin’s surface.
Both models can be connected directly to your smartwatch. You can also send this information to Android and iPhone smartphones via Bluetooth.
Monitor your blood sugar levels and send alerts if your blood sugar levels are too low. It is FDA approved and suitable for ages 2 and up, so both adults and children can wear it.
freestyle libre 2 & 3 (and 3 PLUS)
Freestyle Libre, like Dexcom, measures interstitial fluid and provides blood sugar data.
This is a real-time CGM that sends blood sugar readings to a designated receiver or phone app and can display the data on many smartwatches.
Freestyle Libre 2 and 3 sensors last 14 days before needing replacement, and Libre 3 PLUS lasts 15 days.
Freestyle Libre 2 is recommended for ages 2 and up, and Freestyle Libre 3 is recommended for ages 4 and up.
How smartwatches can help people living with diabetes
Here are some benefits of smartwatches for people living with diabetes.
Let’s take care of our health
One of the best ways to manage diabetes is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Smartwatches are great tools that allow you to manage your health.
A smartwatch linked to a blood sugar monitoring system is one of the easiest ways to do that.
These devices serve as a consistent health check. For example, if your blood sugar levels drop too low or rise too high, your smartwatch will alert you that you need to take action.
Read blood sugar levels quickly and carefully
Traditional blood sugar detection methods can be time-consuming. With a smartwatch that works with CGM, you can quickly and efficiently check your blood sugar levels just by looking at your wrist.
This is very useful at meetings, social gatherings, and other places where you want to discreetly check your blood sugar levels.
It’s also useful when you’re exercising, driving, or doing other tasks and don’t want to stop to check your blood sugar levels with your smartphone or finger.
More socially acceptable than checking your phone
Although you may be able to check your blood sugar levels on your smartphone, there are many situations where checking on a smartphone is not acceptable.
You may be driving in your car, in a meeting, or if you are young, at school. Checking your cell phone is not very careful and can result in penalties when you are out and about or in class.
Smartwatches can deliver notifications without making any sounds on the user’s phone. Some offer vibration options that are invisible to others.
Just glance at your wrist and you’ll be able to focus on numbers without being rude to those around you.
A smartwatch allows you to check your blood sugar levels without being distracted by other smartphone apps. You can use your smartwatch to check your blood sugar levels while you work, which is great if you want to be more productive.
Things to be careful about when buying a smartwatch
In addition to choosing a CGM, there are other things people with diabetes should consider before purchasing a smartwatch.
Check out the rest of our handy buyer’s guide below to find out what you need to look out for.
accuracy
Because CGMs are devices that measure blood sugar levels, accuracy is more of an issue. Nevertheless, accuracy is also important when considering other metrics such as heart rate and blood oxygen.
To better understand your health condition, you need as accurate information as possible. This will help you see where you are making progress and where you need to improve.
All of this will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, which is important when living with diabetes.
Features
Apart from linking to CGM, your smartwatch should also have a variety of health features to help you stay healthy. Features like heart rate and calorie intake measurement can help you stay healthy.
High-end smartwatches may have features such as blood oxygen measurement, which may not be necessary depending on your needs.
Your budget will determine what features your watch will have, but the basic model should have the right health features.
design
Smartwatches are designed with comfort in mind, but you should choose one that doesn’t put too much strain on your wrist.
You also need to make sure that your smartwatch isn’t too big or small for your needs. This is determined primarily by your physique, but your lifestyle also plays a role.
Athletes and people who exercise frequently may need a bold design, while working professionals may prefer a more sophisticated look.
The face of your watch is also important. If you squint to read it, there is no point in purchasing a smartwatch.
battery life
It’s important to buy a smartwatch with a long lifespan, especially if you wear your smartwatch almost all the time to take CGM readings.
Your smartwatch should have a decent battery life so you don’t have to keep charging it frequently.
Charging time is also important, as it doesn’t take much of a day for the model to be fully charged.
water resistance
Whether you’re washing your hands or swimming in the pool, a good smartwatch should be water resistant. People with diabetes may also prefer to wear a smartwatch in the shower to receive CGM alerts. Therefore, the model must be able to withstand water well.
Smartwatches aren’t completely waterproof, but you should look for a model that can withstand water depths of 5 feet or less. These should be able to survive showering, washing hands, and swimming.
FAQ
How can people living with diabetes benefit from smartwatches?
People living with diabetes can manage their condition by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Smartwatches come with many health features that help diabetics better understand their health status.
Calorie intake, sleep quality, and heart rate can all be tracked with your smartwatch. You can also link to a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to display your blood sugar levels.
Can a smartwatch monitor blood sugar levels?
Smartwatches currently cannot measure blood sugar levels directly from your wrist. However, you can link to a continuous blood glucose monitor to view blood glucose data. CGMs are usually placed on the surface of the skin.
It usually has a sensor that penetrates the skin and measures interstitial glucose levels. This is the glucose content of the fluid between cells.
Once you have this data, you can connect it to your smartphone or smartwatch using an app that displays this data.
Are there any downsides to using a smartwatch to manage diabetes?
The traditional finger prick method of measuring blood sugar levels can take a lot of time. This process also draws blood, which can be uncomfortable. However, using this method you can find out what your blood sugar level is at any given moment.
The smartwatch is linked to the CGM and displays blood sugar levels under the skin. Blood sugar levels take longer to appear in the interstitial fluid than in the blood. This means that the CGM may show delayed blood sugar readings.
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