TL;DR
- Garmin has filed a patent describing a method to estimate HbA1c using optical sensors built into its watches.
- The approach would focus on long-term glucose trends rather than real-time readings.
- It’s theoretical for now, but echoes the market push for non-invasive metabolic tracking.
Glucose tracking is shaping up to be the next major frontier in wearable health. Nearly every major player has been rumored to be chasing a wrist-based solution, and now Garmin appears to be exploring its own approach.
A newly surfaced patent, spotted by Wareable, outlines a method for estimating HbA1c, the long-term marker doctors use to evaluate average blood sugar levels. The design uses optical sensors similar to those already built into Garmin watches. Unlike continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), which deliver real-time readings, this approach would focus on longer-term trends. In theory, that could give users a broader view of their metabolic health without finger pricks or external sensors.
