Apple Watch can now do real-time glucose monitoring and show trends thanks to new Supersapiens app update

The Apple Watch is a venerable fitness companion that can display a host of metrics including heart rate, ECG, and SpO2 values. Apple is expected to bring some form of glucose monitoring to the Watch only in 2026 or later. But Supersapiens' updated app can do it right now when paired with the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport biosensor.

Supersapiens already offers an Energy Band that pairs with the Glucose Sport biosensor and shows real-time blood glucose measurements. Now, the fitness company has updated its iOS app to version 3.1.1 that allows directly display glucose metrics on the Apple Watch directly without having to switch over to the smartphone app.

According to Supersapiens, the new Apple Watch integration will allow athletes and fitness enthusiasts to monitor their glucose readings, animation, and trends consistent with the mobile app. The app is primarily designed for displaying live readouts and sensor state. You can also make the glucose readout the main watch face. For historical data, however, you will have to switch over to the mobile app.

The Libre Sense Glucose Sport biosensor has a glucose measurement dynamic range of 55 to 200 mg/dL. It is a disposable sensor that can provide accurate readings for up to 14 days after which you will have to replace it with a new one.

The sensor measures glucose levels in tissue interstitial fluid and not in the blood/plasma. Depending on the extent of sugar intake, metabolism in the muscles, and variations in glucose uptake between the blood and interstitial fluid compartments, there will be a time lag before blood glucose and interstitial fluid glucose values are comparable.

Therefore, Abbott recommends this glucose monitor only for athletes and not for medical or diagnostic use. That means, even if you get one of these biosensors to pair with your Apple Watch, these cannot be used for diagnosis or treatment of diabetes.

While Supersapiens' app is handy to have, other monitors such as the Dexcom G7 and homebrew projects using the Abbott FreeStyle Libre can already display glucose readings on the Apple Watch and have been in vogue for quite some time.

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