Samsung has provided a glimpse into its progress on a non-invasive blood glucose measurement device. This is an innovation that has long been sought after in the health tech industry. Dr Hon Pak is Samsung’s Senior Vice President and Head of the Digital Health Team at Mobile eXperience Business. He recently spoke at the Galaxy Tech Forum in San Jose, California. Amongst other things, he shared insights into the company’s work on this challenging technology.
What I’m really excited about is our team, as you may have assumed, we are working on a non-invasive optically-based continuous glucose monitor. I can’t tell you the time [of the launch], but I’m very excited about the progress we are making, and this, if we do it right, will be a game-changer.
Progress in optical blood glucose monitoring
Dr. Pak confirmed Samsung is developing a continuous glucose monitor using optical technology. Details on its release remain under wraps. However, he expressed optimism about the progress being made. According to Dr Pak, if all goes well, this new tech could transform the tech space.
The company could integrate this optical sensor into its existing health-tracking devices like the Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Ring. However, its initial size may require it to be a standalone device before miniaturization allows integration into other devices.
A game-changer for diabetes management
Current methods of glucose monitoring are invasive. They require blood samples via needles or the insertion of sensors under the skin for tracking. This is the major reason why this new tech could be a game changer.
The benefits wouldn’t stop at medical uses. For general users, the technology could unlock new health insights. This includes tracking glucose spikes related to diet and offering detailed data for personal health management.
However, Samsung isn’t the only tech giant pursuing this tech. Apple has also hinted at working on non-invasive glucose monitoring. At the moment, the progress of Apple’s work is largely speculative. The company has said such sensors are hard to develop with a lot of technical hurdles.
Both companies’ efforts highlight the broader industry push toward innovative health tracking. The integration of such tech into everyday devices could redefine wearables’ role in healthcare.
Future possibilities
Though the launch date for this blood glucose monitor is still unclear, its impact on care and health tracking is huge. As Samsung and other top firms aim to solve tech issues, the hope of non-invasive glucose checks seems nearer than ever. Whether as solo gadgets or built into wearables, the rise of such tools could mark a key step in health tech. This could boost testing mostly for those with diabetes and give new info for users as well.
