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Apple Monitoring Blood Glucose

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Re: Apple Monitoring Blood Glucose

#61

Post by Traubenfuchs »

acoster wrote: post #51
templaedhel wrote: post #6

As a type 1 diabetic I'm super excited to see apple working in this space, even if they're focusing it on type 2 to start (a logical move, considering there is something like 30x more type 2 diabetics in the US). I think making it easier to track glucose levels in real time is the number one thing that can be done to improve quality of life for both types of diabetics. The "CGM" (continuous glucose monitor) has reall…

My partner is type 1 diabetic, and CGMs were a game changer for her (they started rolling out in Switzerland last year). She's been using the FreeStyle Libre ( https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/libre/ ), which uses NFC and on select markets has an Android app available, but here we still have to use the handheld reader.

It is quite annoying when you are getting intimate though.

Re: Apple Monitoring Blood Glucose

#62

Post by pimeys »

Traubenfuchs wrote: post #61
acoster wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My partner is type 1 diabetic, and CGMs were a game changer for her (they started rolling out in Switzerland last year). She's been using the FreeStyle Libre ( https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/libre/ ), which uses NFC and on select markets has an Android app available, but here we still have to use the handheld reader.

It is quite annoying when you are getting intimate though.

The libre or the pump? I usually just unplug the pump for sex and take some extra insulin when I plug it back. Small price to pay for the luxury of steady sugars.

Re: Apple Monitoring Blood Glucose

#63

Post by pimeys »

aedron wrote: post #59

Apple's recent obsession with health monitoring is weird from a branding standpoint. Losing appeal with young people is the nightmare of any technology company, becoming known as that gadget for geriatrics is another level of dejection. I read that this focus is particularly driven by Tim Cook's fascination with the space. It sort of confirms my idea of him as not a very image conscious CEO, especially in contrast wi…

I think this is just the right move. It's the only good reason to own an Apple or Android Watch, to monitor your health. The current solutions require quite a many devices to get the information to your watch. If Apple nails it with their product for us Type 1 diabetics, I'm ready to switch from Android.

Re: Apple Monitoring Blood Glucose

#64

Post by cs2818 »

aedron wrote: post #59

Apple's recent obsession with health monitoring is weird from a branding standpoint. Losing appeal with young people is the nightmare of any technology company, becoming known as that gadget for geriatrics is another level of dejection. I read that this focus is particularly driven by Tim Cook's fascination with the space. It sort of confirms my idea of him as not a very image conscious CEO, especially in contrast wi…

I don't have any data on hand to back this up, but I don't think younger people are necessarily averse to monitoring their own health. I think personal health monitoring devices fit well with the devices the younger generation already uses to help maintain their identity and concept of self.

I agree if it's poorly implemented or marketed it won't be adopted, but Apple probably has a shot at getting it right.

Re: Apple Monitoring Blood Glucose

#66

Post by dale-cooper »

pimeys wrote: post #55
acoster wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My partner is type 1 diabetic, and CGMs were a game changer for her (they started rolling out in Switzerland last year). She's been using the FreeStyle Libre ( https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/libre/ ), which uses NFC and on select markets has an Android app available, but here we still have to use the handheld reader.

I seriously recommend testing xDrip+ with the Libre. Better results and you don't need to carry an extra reader device with you all the time: https://github.com/NightscoutFoundation/xDrip Pull requests are welcome too :)

In what way does it offer better results?

There's an official android app for libre too, i'm not sure if it's available everywhere though.

Re: Apple Monitoring Blood Glucose

#67

Post by pimeys »

dale-cooper wrote: post #66
pimeys wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I seriously recommend testing xDrip+ with the Libre. Better results and you don't need to carry an extra reader device with you all the time: https://github.com/NightscoutFoundation/xDrip Pull requests are welcome too :)

In what way does it offer better results? There's an official android app for libre too, i'm not sure if it's available everywhere though.

The libre measures the glucose from the interstitial fluid, which doesn't map directly to the value measured from blood. Think about coordinates, where X is the value from interstitial fluid and Y is the value from blood. You must draw a line somewhere to map the values correctly and the Libre is calibrated in the factory. For me the Libre reader was just an ok indicator about the trend, but the actual value was sometimes not even near the value shown. It's ok between the normal range 4.0-8.5 mmol/l, but I'd be suspicious about every value outside of that range.

With xDrip you can input values measured from blood and the software will try to estimate as accurate values as possible, meaning that in the best case you can be quite sure about the reading, but always better to check from blood.

Remember, that calibration should happen only when the levels are steady and you should calibrate from the whole range to trust the readings. Anyways at least 2-3 measurements per day from blood is suggested, even with the more expensive CGM's.

Re: Apple Monitoring Blood Glucose

#68

Post by MeteOzturk »

Cross pollination between life sciences and consumer electronics will deliver amazing opportunities for chronic disease patients. Non-Invasive blood analysis can deliver new treatment opportunities for diabetes patients. This is an amazing field to innovate in indeed.

My startup enigma.bio is working on low power laser spectroscopy blood analysis techniques inside the tympanic canal for the last 3 years. Seeing interest in the field from large players is exciting.

Re: Apple Monitoring Blood Glucose

#69

Post by proyb2 »

aedron wrote: post #59

Apple's recent obsession with health monitoring is weird from a branding standpoint. Losing appeal with young people is the nightmare of any technology company, becoming known as that gadget for geriatrics is another level of dejection. I read that this focus is particularly driven by Tim Cook's fascination with the space. It sort of confirms my idea of him as not a very image conscious CEO, especially in contrast wi…

I don't think you could say for the general young generation.

Google, Apple and Samsung have been vie for these feature in 2014.

It is not uncommon to focus on health space when the technology is mature, we can't live and worry about our health.

What is the point if you have the greatest smartphone watch and still lead unhealthy lifestyle?

Re: Apple Monitoring Blood Glucose

#70

Post by analog31 »

highd wrote: post #3

Research labs have been trying this for years with every spectroscopy known to man - the signal is just too weak. I don't see any reason to think Apple has figured something out that labs of optics experts can't do on the benchtop.

Indeed, I design similar equipment for industrial use. Non invasive blood glucose has been a holy grail of analytical technology for decades. Lots of smart people have gone bankrupt trying to solve this problem. The sensors are probably good enough already. Algorithms for sorting out massive libraries of spectral data exist. It's a hard problem. That's not saying Apple doesn't stand a chance, but that they're entering a very mature space.
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