Fitbit is giving the Apple Watch a run for its money Fitbit, maker of many of the best fitness trackers, has announced a new blood glucose monitoring tool for the Fitbit app

According to a blog post, Fitbit's approach to blood glucose tracking requires users to manually enter data in the Fitbit app or automatically from another glucose monitoring app The upcoming Apple Watch, on the other hand, is rumored to offer native non-invasive blood glucose monitoring Still, Fitbit deserves praise for launching the tool now and further expanding the company's comprehensive suite of health management metrics

Smartwatches like Fitbit Sense, which detects stress and reads body temperature, could already read blood oxygen (SpO2) levels and track daily habits But now, any Fitbit user with diabetes or other conditions requiring blood glucose monitoring can enter or import measurements and view them along with activity, nutritional status, and sleep data

Users who enter data manually can also send reminders to their Fitbit device when it is time to record blood glucose levels; those who use LifeScan's OneTouch Reveal to monitor blood glucose can pair their account with the Fitbit app According to Fitbit, compatibility with other meters and apps will be released soon

Fitbit Premium users will also have expanded tools to analyze blood glucose trends over time, including how often glucose levels fall within target ranges within 30 days Fitbit Health Coach will use blood glucose levels to better inform customized action plans to better inform your plan

It is important to reiterate that Fitbit's blood glucose tracking tool is not a substitute for invasive measurements taken with a finger prick or body-worn pump Rather, they are a means of placing measurements in the context of other health and wellness indicators collected by the Fitbit device

Apple Watch users who currently use a specific blood glucose monitoring app can sync their data with Apple Health or manually enter readings; the same is true for Samsung Galaxy Watch users and Samsung Health However, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is believed to be able to measure blood glucose levels onboard, as is the Apple Watch 7

Fitbit's introduction of blood glucose metrics in its app may mean that the company is preparing to introduce non-invasive on-the-wrist readings in its upcoming smartwatch as well; while rumors about Fitbit Sense 2 have yet to be heard, blood glucose measurement could be a logical upgrade But that is mere speculation