New Apple Watch to monitor blood glucose and pressure, sleep apnea signs: report

The Apple Watch is always adding new features — and the 2024 version could be a game changer for your health.

According to a report from Bloomberg, the newest series of the device will have three additional health sensors that can alert wearers if they are pre-diabetic, sense rising blood pressure and detect sleep disturbances that could mean hypertension or sleep apnea.

It’s unclear exactly how the Apple Watch Series 10 will detect blood pressure, but Forbes speculated that it could be using near-infrared spectroscopy — calculating changes in blood pressure by looking at blood flow with near-infrared light.

While this technology wouldn’t give exact numbers that a doctor could provide, it can detect any major changes, giving a sign to the person that they should visit a healthcare professional.

Similar to the blood pressure feature, sleep apnea detection will work as an early gauge and a signal to see a doctor.

The tool would look at indicators such as movement, breathing rate, snoring and heart rate. However, it won’t be able to monitor brain activity.

Bloomberg also reported that there will be an Apple Watch with a blood glucose monitor to let the wearer know if they may be pre-diabetic.

As part of Apple’s “evolving approach to health care,” they’re expected to continue working on other health features for future series and other Apple products, such as AirPods that act as hearing aids with a feature to test hearing at home.

The tech giant is reportedly also creating a digital health coaching service that will create personalized workout and eating plans. It would require a monthly subscription and could use artificial intelligence and device data.