Fitbit users will soon be able to track blood sugar levels on the Fitbit app, a capability that could come in handy for users who have diabetes.
The new free feature, called Blood Glucose Tracking, is rolling out throughout the month of February. It will allow people with diabetes to manually log the glucose meter readings they take throughout the day right into their Fitbit app, according to a Fitbit news release, where it will live with all their other health data. Users will also be able to set notifications on their app or wrist device reminding them to input their blood sugar readings.
Keeping blood sugar levels within a targeted range is a key part of managing diabetes—and a tricky one, given that many variables impact blood sugar (including medication, diet, exercise, stress, sickness, menstruation, and pain), the American Diabetes Association explains.
Fitbit devices and the corresponding app already track factors such as activity, exercise, food intake, stress levels, and sleep quality. They do so by using a combination of biometric data (such as heart rate and steps) automatically tracked with a device worn around the wrist as well as data (such as what you ate) manually entered into the app.
Adding the new blood glucose tracking feature to the Fitbit app may help users with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes make better sense of how these other health metrics and behaviors may raise or lower their blood sugar. As the release explains, πwith your details in one place, you can see how your blood glucose levels change throughout the day and are impacted by physical activity, food, sleep, and other lifestyle choices.”
The feature allows users to set a target range for their blood sugar and view graphs displaying their health data. The ability to see all of these data points in the same app could provide a more convenient and cohesive way for individuals with diabetes to observe blood sugar trends over time, including correlations between blood sugar and their other health habits or numbers. “It can allow you to learn your body’s unique patterns and how behaviors like diet, activity, and sleep and other factors like stress and medication adherence are affecting your levels,” Fitbit says.
Looking at data trends and relationships over time can also help people with diabetes tailor their treatment plan, including both medication (like insulin) and behaviors (such as eating and exercising), to better manage their disease. For instance, if somebody notices they consistently have low blood sugar right after their morning workout, they may eat more carbohydrates or decrease their insulin dosage beforehand. Or if they notice a pattern of blood sugar spikes in the evening, they might increase the amount of insulin they take at dinnertime or choose to add more fiber and or fat to their dinner (these slow the rate at which carbs raise blood sugar).
Although Blood Glucose Tracking is free, Fitbit Premium members will get access to a couple of extra features. They will be able to view how frequently their blood sugars remain in their targeted range throughout the month and share a health data report with their doctor.
The Fitbit joins a number of diabetes-management apps on the market, as well as general health and fitness trackers with blood-sugar-tracking capabilities, like Apple Health. The company plans to release updates to the app that will make it more user-friendly to more people with diabetes. Currently, automatically importing blood sugar readings is only available with the OneTouch Reveal app and accompanying blood sugar meter. But Fitbit says that integration with other blood glucose meters and apps is “coming soon.”
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