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No—not as a standalone glucose monitor. In a U.S. safety communication dated February 21, 2024, the FDA said it had not authorized, cleared, or approved any smartwatch or smart ring intended to measure or estimate blood glucose on its own. A watch can display readings from a separate glucose device, such as a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), but in that setup the other device measures glucose.
Can my smartwatch check my blood sugar?
Not with a standalone watch feature that you should rely on as a glucose measurement. The FDA says watches and rings marketed to measure or estimate blood glucose on their own do not directly test blood glucose, and their safety and effectiveness have not been reviewed by the agency. Its statement concerns the U.S. regulatory status as of February 21, 2024; it is not a clinical accuracy study of every product or a claim that every research approach is impossible. Read the FDA safety communication.
The FDA does not provide an accuracy percentage for these standalone watch claims. There is therefore no supported percentage to use when comparing them with a meter or CGM. Treating an unreviewed watch estimate as a confirmed glucose result can be dangerous, especially if it guides a medication decision.
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Can a watch show glucose readings from a CGM?
Yes, some smartwatch apps can display readings from a separate FDA-authorized glucose device, including a CGM. That does not mean the watch itself measures glucose: the CGM is the measuring device, and the watch is showing its data. Whether a particular watch, phone, app, and CGM work together depends on the specific products, software, and location; compatibility for a particular combination is not established here.
#1 Best Overall
- HSA/FSA eligible. No prescription needed.
- 24/7 GLUCOSE TRACKING. See your glucose response to food, exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors via the Lingo app.
- OPTIMIZE YOUR NUTRITION. Discover which foods work for you and those that don't. The Lingo app shows you how specific meals and other factors impact your glucose, so you can learn from your insights and build healthier habits
- NAVIGATE PREDIABETES WITH A NEW VIEW OF YOU. More time in healthy glucose range is linked to lower diabetes risk. Three out of four users with prediabetes say Lingo was effective in helping to achieve their health goals¹.
- HEALTHY GLUCOSE SUPPORTS HEART HEALTH. What you eat matters to your glucose and your heart. Keeping your glucose in a healthy range (70–140 mg/dL) more often can help protect your heart from heart disease²⁻⁴.
Why an inaccurate reading can be dangerous
The FDA warns that inaccurate readings could lead people to make inappropriate treatment decisions. It specifically identifies insulin and sulfonylureas as medicines for which errors could contribute to dangerous hypoglycemia, confusion, coma, or death. Do not use an unsupported smartwatch estimate to decide whether to take, withhold, or change diabetes medication.
If you rely on glucose readings for care, ask a healthcare provider which FDA-authorized device is appropriate for you. The FDA recommends this directly in its safety communication.
Rank #2
- HSA/FSA eligible. No prescription needed.
- 24/7 GLUCOSE TRACKING. See your glucose response to food, exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors via the Lingo app.
- OPTIMIZE YOUR NUTRITION. Discover which foods work for you and those that don't. The Lingo app shows you how specific meals and other factors impact your glucose, so you can learn from your insights and build healthier habits.
- NAVIGATE PREDIABETES WITH A NEW VIEW OF YOU. More time in healthy glucose range is linked to lower diabetes risk. Three out of four users with prediabetes say Lingo was effective in helping to achieve their health goals¹.
- HEALTHY GLUCOSE SUPPORTS HEART HEALTH. What you eat matters to your glucose and your heart. Keeping your glucose in a healthy range (70–140 mg/dL) more often can help protect your heart from heart disease²⁻⁴.
What to use instead
Home blood glucose meter
A home meter system uses a handheld meter and test strips with a small blood sample. Results depend on the meter and strips as well as how the test is performed. Follow the device instructions, use new test strips authorized for sale in the United States, and ask a healthcare provider which meter is suitable. The FDA explains the basics in its glucose meter overview.
Continuous glucose monitor
A CGM is a separate glucose-monitoring device that pierces the skin. Some compatible systems can share readings with a smartwatch app; in that arrangement, the CGM—not the watch—measures glucose. Check the manufacturer’s compatibility information for the exact watch, phone, app, and CGM before relying on a display feature.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- The information below is per-pack only
- HSA/FSA eligible. No prescription needed.
- 24/7 GLUCOSE TRACKING. See your glucose response to food, exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors via the Lingo app.
- OPTIMIZE YOUR NUTRITION. Discover which foods work for you and those that don't. The Lingo app shows you how specific meals and other factors impact your glucose, so you can learn from your insights and build healthier habits
- NAVIGATE PREDIABETES WITH A NEW VIEW OF YOU. More time in healthy glucose range is linked to lower diabetes risk. Three out of four users with prediabetes say Lingo was effective in helping to achieve their health goals¹.
Rank #3
- ✅ For people NOT using insulin, ages 18 years and older
- ❌ Don’t use if: On insulin, on dialysis, if you have problematic hypoglycemia, are modifying medication without HCP consultation, or if you have a history of eating disorders
- YOUR SUCCESS, OUR COMMITMENT: Should you experience an issue with your biosensor before its 15-day wear is up,[2] we’ll replace it for free. [3]
- POWERFUL FEATURES: Get AI-powered coaching, plus discover in-app nutrition & glucose insights, advanced meal and activity logging, trend summaries and deep dives, pattern insights and much more—plus, effortlessly sync your data with Apple Health, Google Health Connect, and Oura.
- PRODUCT SUPPORT: Provided by Stelo through SteloBot, which can be accessed via the Stelo app by going to Settings > Contact. SteloBot virtual support assistant is available 24/7, and live agent support available during regular business hours.
How to assess a blood-sugar feature on a watch
- Find out what device takes the measurement. If the feature depends on a separate CGM, meter, or other glucose device, the watch is displaying data rather than measuring glucose on its own.
- Check the intended use and authorization. For use in the United States, look for FDA authorization of the glucose-measuring device for its intended use; a watch display alone is not evidence that standalone glucose measurement has been reviewed.
- Confirm exact compatibility. Verify that the specific watch, phone, app, software, and glucose device are supported together in your location.
- Do not substitute an unreviewed estimate for a validated result. If a reading will affect medication or treatment, use the monitoring method recommended by your healthcare provider.
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