Best Smartwatches For Diabetics (Review & Buying Guide)

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Smartwatches can be a great tool to help people living with diabetes keep a healthy lifestyle.

These devices can help you manage your diet, heart rate, calorie intake, and even your stress levels.

Smartwatches cannot currently monitor blood glucose levels directly, and the FDA has warned against using watches or rings that claim to be able to measure blood sugar. However, you can link external CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) systems to your smartwatch to get blood sugar readings.

I have done a lot of research to find the best smartwatches for people with diabetes and answer some of the most common questions about smartwatches. 

Smartwatch review

These are the, in my opinion, five best smartwatches for people living with diabetes currently on the market:

Buying guide

Can smartwatches reliably show health data?

Smartwatches can display your blood glucose levels but won’t measure them themselves. They need to be linked with an external CGM system to acquire blood glucose information and are as accurate and reliable as the CGM you use.

Except for Apple watches 6 and newer, you will still need to carry your phone as the watches have to connect to your phone to display your blood sugar readings.

Other than blood glucose data, smartwatches can help people with diabetes manage a healthy lifestyle. They can look at your calorie intake, diet plan, heart rate, sleep patterns, and stress levels. 

These benefits sound amazing, but remember, none of these devices will be 100% accurate. Nevertheless, opting for a brand like Samsung, Fitbit, Garmin or Apple is a good idea. These will be more expensive, but their devices will be more accurate than cheaper options.

In most cases, obtaining a more reliable smartwatch will mean you’ll have to part with more money. 

Additionally, a smartwatch’s accuracy will vary with the watch’s location and your wrist steadiness. When you measure your heart rate or blood pressure, you should aim to keep your arms and wrists as stable as you can.

Any movement can affect the measuring process and may deliver inaccurate results.

Current CGM devices that link with smartwatches

Here are some of the CGM devices that can currently link to smartwatches. You should consider these options before purchasing your smartwatch. 

Dexcom G6 & G7

Dexcom’s G6 and G7 models are the brand’s most up-to-date glucose monitors. They use a sensor to continually measure glucose over a ten-day term. The sensor has a small needle that reaches interstitial fluid under the skin, held in place with an adhesive patch on the skin’s surface. 

Both models can connect directly to smartwatches. They can also send this information to Android and iPhone smartphones through Bluetooth. 

They will monitor glucose levels and send alerts when they are too low. They are FDA-approved and suitable for anyone over the age of 2, so both adults and children can wear them. 

Freestyle Libre 2 & 3 (and 3 PLUS)

The Freestyle Libre measures interstitial fluid to deliver blood sugar data like the Dexcom.

It’s a real-time CGM sending your blood sugar readings to a designated receiver or phone app and can display data on many smartwatches.

The Freestyle Libre 2 and 3 sensors will last for 14 days before they need replacing, and Libre 3 PLUS will last 15 days.

Freestyle Libre 2 is indicated for age 2 and older and Freestyle Libre 3 is indicated for age 4 and older.

Ways smartwatches can help people living with diabetes

Here are some of the advantages smartwatches can have for those living with diabetes. 

Lets you manage your condition

One of the best ways of controlling diabetes is through maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Smartwatches can be a great tool that lets you look after your well-being. 

Smartwatches linked to a blood glucose monitoring system are one of the simplest ways of doing so. 

These devices can act as a consistent medical checkup. For instance, if your blood sugar lowers or rises too much, you’ll get an alert on your smartwatch, indicating that you need to take action. 

Reads blood sugar levels quickly and discreetly

Traditional blood glucose detection methods can take time to carry out. Smartwatches linked with CGMs allow you to check your blood sugar quickly and efficiently by just glancing at your wrists.

This can be very convenient in meetings, social gatherings, and other places where you may prefer to check your blood sugar discreetly.

It is also very practical when exercising, driving, or doing anything else where you don’t want to stop to check your blood sugar on your phone or with a finger stick.

More socially acceptable than checking your phone

You may be able to check your blood sugar through your smartphone, but there are many instances where checking your phone isn’t acceptable.

You may be driving your car, in a meeting, or if younger, maybe in school. Checking your phone isn’t very discreet, and may result in penalties when on the road or during class. 

Smartwatches can deliver a notification without playing sounds on the user’s phone. Some offer a vibrate option that won’t be noticeable to others.

You simply have to glance at your wrist to keep an eye on the numbers, without looking disrespectful of your surroundings.

Smartwatches also allow you to check your blood glucose without being distracted by other smartphone apps. This is ideal if you want to improve your productivity, as you can use your smartwatch to check your blood sugar while working. 

What to look for when purchasing a smartwatch

Other than your choice of CGM, there are other things people living with diabetes should consider before buying a smartwatch.

Take a look at the rest of our handy buyer’s guide below to see what you should look out for! 

Accuracy

Accuracy is more of an issue with your CGM, as this will be the device that measures your blood glucose. Despite this, accuracy also matters when considering other metrics, like heart rate or blood oxygen. 

You need as accurate information as possible to get a better understanding of your health. This will let you know where you are making progress and where you need to improve.

All of this helps maintain a healthy lifestyle, which is key when living with diabetes. 

Features

Other than linking to a CGM, your smartwatch should have a range of health features that help you with your well-being. Features like measuring heart rate and calorie intake can help you keep fit. 

Higher-end smartwatches may have features like measuring blood oxygen, though this might not be necessary, depending on your needs. 

Your budget will be a factor that determines what features your watch will have, but basic models should still have a decent selection of health features. 

Design

Smartwatches tend to be designed with comfort in mind, but you should make sure that your choice isn’t too heavy on your wrist.

You’ll also need to make sure that your smartwatch isn’t too large or small for your needs. This mainly depends on your build, but your lifestyle affects this too.

Athletes and those who exercise often may need a bolder design, while working professionals may prefer a sleeker look. 

The watch face also matters. There’s no point in buying a smartwatch if you keep squinting to read it! 

Battery Life

It’s important to buy a smartwatch with a long life span, especially if you will be wearing the smartwatch almost constantly to get CGM readings.

Your smartwatch should have a decent battery life so you won’t have to keep charging it too often. 

Recharging time also matters, as your model shouldn’t need to take most of the day to fully recharge. 

Water Resistance

Whether you’re washing your hands or taking a dip in a pool, a good smartwatch should be water-resistant. People with diabetes may even prefer to wear their smartwatch in the shower to get CGM alerts, so your model should hold up to water well. 

Smartwatches won’t be completely waterproof, but try to look for models that can survive in water 5 feet deep or shallower. These should be able to survive in the shower, washing hands, or even swimming.  

Frequently asked questions 

What benefits can people living with diabetes get from smartwatches?

People living with diabetes can manage their condition by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Smartwatches have many health features that can help diabetics gain a better understanding of their health.

Calorie intake, sleep quality, and heart rate are all some of the things smartwatches can track. They can also link to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) to display blood sugar levels. 

Can smartwatches monitor blood sugar?

Smartwatches currently cannot measure blood sugar directly from the wrist. However, they can link to continuous blood glucose monitors to display blood sugar data. CGMs are usually worn on the skin’s surface.

They normally have sensors that penetrate the skin, measuring interstitial glucose levels. This is the glucose content of fluid between cells.

Once they have this data, they can connect to smartphones and smartwatches with an app that displays this data.

Are there any downsides to using smartwatches to manage diabetes?

Traditional finger-pricking methods to measure blood sugar can take a lot of time. It can also be uncomfortable as the process draws blood. However, this method lets you know what your glucose levels are for that precise moment.

Smartwatches link to CGMs which show glucose levels beneath the skin. It takes longer for glucose levels to show in interstitial fluid compared to within the blood. This means that CGMs may show a delayed blood glucose reading.

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