FDA Issues Warning on Smartwatches and Smart Rings Claiming Blood Glucose Measurement
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a cautionary advisory on Wednesday regarding the use of smartwatches and smart rings that purportedly measure blood glucose levels without the need for skin piercing. The FDA emphasized that it has not authorized or approved any such devices for standalone blood glucose measurement, warning of the potential dangers associated with their usage. According to the FDA, reliance on these unauthorized devices can result in inaccurate blood glucose readings, also referred to as blood sugar levels, which may lead to critical errors in diabetes management with life-threatening consequences. These unapproved devices differ from smartwatch applications that merely display data from FDA-approved continuous glucose monitoring devices, which require skin penetration. Risks of Inaccurate Blood Glucose Readings Highlighted by FDA While the FDA refrained from naming specific brands, it underscored that sellers of these unauthorized smartwatches an...