US FDA issue warning over smartwatches and smart rings

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has urged consumers not to use smart devices to manage blood glucose levels unless they pierce the skin.

The FDA’s statement, released on their website officially states that only the items that are FDA-approved for specifically managing these vital levels should be trusted. FDA MedWatch posted on X:

Do Not Use Smartwatches or Smart Rings to Measure Blood Glucose – FDA Safety Communication https://t.co/OmUgZAT0dW pic.twitter.com/3iSavMqYO8

— US FDA MedWatch (@FDAMedWatch) February 21, 2024

FDA advice

The FDA has stated that “regardless of manufacturer or brand” those devices which are not approved by the regulator should be avoided as “sellers of these smartwatches and smart rings claim their devices measure blood glucose levels without requiring people to prick their finger or pierce the skin. They claim to use non-invasive techniques. These smartwatches and smart rings do not directly test blood glucose levels.”

Accurate reportage of blood glucose is vital for diabetic conditions for example and inaccurate results could prove more costly than a non-regulated device. Taking the wrong dose of insulin,
sulfonylureas or other medications based on improper reportage can cause an imbalance that could lead to “mental confusion, coma, or death within hours of the error.”

”If your medical care depends on accurate blood glucose measurements, talk to your health care provider about an appropriate FDA-authorized device for your needs,” says the statement recommendations for Consumers, Patients and Caregivers.

The government watchdog has asked users who have had issues with medical devices to report the problem via the MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form.

Any developments that arise in this area will be monitored by the FDA and they will keep the public informed according to the statement.

In tech-related medical news that might not thrill the FDA, Goolge’s Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer (AMIE) reportedly became more efficient at diagnosing conditions in text-based interactions with patients.

The large language model (LMM) managed to beat human doctors in a closed experiment of twenty mock patients and their fabricated illnesses, but Google has been quick to reaffirm that this was just a trial of a potential new avenue for artificial intelligence (AI) application.

AI is becoming an ever-increasing part of the modern world and reportage data and experiments will continue to be a feature as long as the technology industry sees them as valuable, however, institutions like the FDA will be close at hand to regulate them.

Image Credit: FDA.

Brian-Damien Morgan

Freelance Journalist

Brian-Damien Morganis an award-winning journalist and features writer. He was lucky enough to work in the print sector for many UK newspapers before embarking on a successful career as a digital broadcaster and specialist.

His work has spanned the public and private media sectors of the United Kingdom for almost two decades.

Since 2007, Brian has continued to add to a long list of publications and institutions, most notably as Editor of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, winning multiple awards for his writing and digital broadcasting efforts.

Brian would then go on to be integral to the Legacy 2014, Media and Sport Directorate of the Scottish Government. Working with ministers to enact change through sport with institutions like the Homeless World Cup.

He would then lend his skills to multiple private sector institutions. Brian would win national acclaim helping his country deliver judicial education and communications during the pandemic-era. Earning a writ of personal distinction from the Lord President of Scotland for his efforts as the Head of Communications and Digital for the Judicial Office for Scotland.

Brian has returned back to the thing he loves most, writing and commenting on developments across technology, gaming and legal topics, as well as any-and-all things sport related.