Apple – which seeks to achieve more progress in the field of health care – tested an application this year to help people with diabetes manage their food intake and make changes to their lifestyle, according to a report published by Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter.
The company tested the service on selected employees earlier this year, as part of its broader push toward blood sugar features, according to the people, who asked to remain anonymous because the work is confidential.
Although Apple has no plans to release the app, the company may eventually incorporate the technology into future health products, including a non-invasive glucose tracker that it has been developing for more than a decade.
Employees participating in the testing needed to verify their diabetes through a blood test. This means that they do not currently suffer from this disease but may be at risk of developing the second type of disease.
As part of the test, they actively monitored blood sugar through various devices available on the market and then recorded glucose level changes in response to food intake.
The idea behind the system is to show how certain foods can affect blood sugar, in hopes of inspiring changes that can prevent diabetes.
For example, if users record that they ate pasta for lunch and their blood sugar rose, they can be told to stop eating pasta or switch to protein.
The study was intended to explore potential uses for blood sugar data and tools the company could create for consumers. For now, though, testing of the app has been halted to allow Apple to focus on other health features. A company spokesman declined to comment.
Glucose check
The news indicates that glucose testing and food logging could be important areas of expansion for Apple in the future. The company’s current health app lacks meal logging features, in contrast to competing services. The research could also lead to Apple integrating third-party glucose tracking more deeply into its offerings.
The study was not directly related to Apple’s long-term effort to build a non-prick glucose monitoring device, but it may ultimately help inform how the company approaches this project.
The non-invasive scanner is one of Apple’s most ambitious health initiatives. The idea is to analyze a person’s blood without pricking the skin, a potentially groundbreaking advance in the fight against diabetes.
The glucose studies were top secret, even compared to previous Apple projects. Employees needed specific screening from managers before they could participate in the program. Several medical and nondisclosure agreements were also required to participate.
Today, glucose testing systems typically require a blood sample, often through a finger prick. There are also small shoulder patches from several manufacturers that are less difficult, although they still require insertion into the skin.
About 15 years ago, Apple set out to create something less invasive, meaning it didn’t require pricks. The project, called E5, was initially so unknown that Apple created a subsidiary to run it. This unit was eventually moved to Apple’s Hardware Technologies group and is now run by a vice president of silicon chips.
Progress on the project
Last year, Bloomberg reported that Apple had made progress on the project and believed it was finally on its way to commercializing the technology.
But the actual product is still years away. Before the company can shrink the sensor size enough to fit into a smartwatch, it is working on an iPhone-sized prototype. Even with this form factor, Apple faced challenges with miniaturization and overheating.
The system uses laser beams to shine light on the skin and determine the amount of glucose in the blood. Although Apple hopes to eventually provide specific blood sugar readings, the initial release will likely be designed to only inform users if they have diabetes.