Experts warn: Be very careful with blood sugar watches
If you are one of those who use smart bracelets or rings to monitor your health, you should pay close attention to a recent warning from health experts in which they claim that These Devices That Promise to Measure Blood Sugar Could Be Dangerous.
According to a statement released by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it warns about these devices, including smart watches, noting that they may not be safe or accurate.
It affects everything devices that promise to measure blood glucose levels non-invasive, regardless of brand.
It is important to emphasize that The FDA has not approved the use of any devices of this type.This means they have not passed the strict quality and safety controls required to gain approval.
Using smart bracelets, watches or rings to measure your blood sugar can be dangerous
Robert Gabbay, a physician with the American Diabetes Association, says the warning comes at a time when diabetes is affecting millions of people around the world.
People living with this condition rely heavily on the ability to reliably control their blood sugar levels.
However, Unauthorized devices may produce inaccurate measurements, which can have serious health consequences.. Experts warn about these devices and reasons not to use these features:
- They are not accurate: The technology these devices use to measure glucose levels through the skin is still in development and is not as reliable as traditional methods such as finger prick meters.
- Serious circumstances: Inaccurate measurements can lead to incorrect medication decisions, leading to devastating health consequences including hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, coma, and even death.
- They are not FDA approved: Authorities have not approved the use of any device of this type to measure blood glucose levels without puncturing the skin.
Although several companies are working on developing smartwatches or bracelets, better known as non-invasive smartbands, to measure blood glucose levels, so far none were able to meet the accuracy and safety standards required by the FDA..
In this sense, health experts warn that it is important to wait for regulatory approval of these devices before relying on them to control diabetes. If you have a device that offers this feature, it is best to disable it as it is not reliable.
It is best to use traditional glucose meters that measure blood sugar levels. or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, which monitor glucose levels in real time using a sensor that is placed under the skin and monitored via a smartphone app.