Fitbit is interested in glucose monitor for wearables

Fitbit has invested 6 million dollars, about 5 million euros, in a start-up that measures glucose in the blood. Fitbit may want to integrate such technology itself in its smart watches and bracelets.

The investment was first reported by CNBC, but was subsequently confirmed by the company itself. Fitbit is investing $6 million in Sano, a company that has existed since 2011, but has not yet launched a product. In recent years, Sano has been working on creating a kind of patch that is able to measure glucose in the blood. There is a lot of interest in such health applications among wearable makers.

Several companies, including Google and Apple, are working on glucose monitors for wearable devices. This is especially helpful for diabetics who need to monitor their blood sugar levels. Usually, a little blood has to be drawn for this, but new techniques make it possible to measure the glucose levels by just skin contact.

Fitbit has launched several smart wearable devices, with a particular focus on fitness and health. Integrating sensors to measure health, including glucose meters, would therefore not be surprising. Fitbit has also previously indicated that it is working on measuring glucose with wearables.