Why You Can Trust Wareable
Founded in 2014, Wareable brings together journalists and experts who have reviewed over 1,000 products, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart rings, smart home gadgets, and health tech devices.
Our team combines hands-on testing, in-depth research, and expert insights to evaluate product performance, assess manufacturer claims, and help readers make informed decisions.
Fitbit teams up with UnitedHealthcare as it gets more serious about diabetes
New pilot program will give patients a Fitbit tracker
Fitbit sees diabetes management as one of the next big opportunities to pounce on. It recently invested $6 million in Sano, a company that makes a coin-size glucose monitor, and partnered with diabetes management company One Drop. Oh, and it's working with Dexcom to let Fitbit Ionic users track their glucose levels (via the Dexcom G5 sensor) on the smartwatch.
Now, it's partnering with American healthcare insurer UnitedHealthcare on a type 2 diabetes management pilot program. Participants will be given either a Fitbit Charge 2 or Ionic, which they'll use along with a Dexcom monitor, to see how their activity levels are impacting their glucose levels.
Physical activity is an important part of managing blood glucose levels, but it can also put diabetics at risk of hypoglycemia, so keeping an eye on activity levels is beneficial. Participants will get personalized coaching to help them increase glucose control and minimize medications.
Read this: How wearable tech is improving the life of diabetics
Fitbit said diabetes is an "important area of focus" for the company right now. More than 29 million people in the US suffer from the condition, and tech giants including Apple are looking at ways to tackle it. Rumors abound that companies are trying to solve non-invasive glucose monitoring, but that could be years away. Until then, management will be key.
