Garmin highlights tools to help manage diabetes in new report

Garmin is raising awareness about how its smartwatches could be used to help people manage diabetes. For example, a study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology earlier this year showed that physiological data collected using a Garmin smartwatch "demonstrated strong potention" for detecting early signs of nocturnal hypoglycemia.

In a recent press release, Garmin suggests that some people with diabetes may benefit from using a combination of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and one of its smartwatches. It points to a report from the Yale School of Medicine, which indicates that people with early-stage type 2 diabetes could achieve “remission” by changing their exercise and eating habits and thus managing their blood sugar levels.

Garmin highlights its new lifestyle logging feature, which arrived with the Venu 4 smartwatch (45mm Slate curr. $499.99 at Amazon). This tool allows users to track various habits, such as their caffeine and alcohol consumption. You can then see how this affects biometrics like heart rate or the quality of your sleep. The company also says that its watches could help you form exercise habits, with regular reminders and suggested workouts. Plus, it proposes that you could use its Index S2 smart scale to track changes to your weight and body composition over time.

Garmin already offers an integration with Dexcom, meaning you can monitor your glucose levels in real time from your smartwatch. It has also partnered with US-based Twin Health, with data like heart rate variability (HRV), sleep and activity sent from a Garmin smartwatch to the Twin Health platform. Combined with data collected by a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), the platform provides users with tailored advice based on their metabolism. On top of this, Garmin Health is working on various research projects in this field, aiming to help more people with diabetes.