Fitbit is a known name when it comes to fitness trackers, the company has been making fitness bands for quite some time to help users keep track of their vitals. To make its health approach even more helpful, Fitbit is partnering with Dexcom - a company that makes continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices for people with diabetes.
Today, Fitbit announced that it is bringing Dexcom's monitoring device data to its new Ionic smartwatch. Dexcom's CGM devices work with sensors under the skin to measure patient's glucose levels every few minutes to alert them if the level crosses the reasonable limit. Until now, the transmitter attached to that sensor used to show data on a smartphone screen or Apple Watch, but now the same functionality is being extended to Fitbit's Ionic smartwatch making it the first wearable other than Apple Watch to have it.
Both Dexcom and Fitbit say they will get the new feature on the Ionic smartwatch in 2018. Besides, they are also working on bringing other diabetes management tools to the wearable.
Following the partnership with Dexcom, Fitbit Inc's shares jumped 10 percent by mid-day Thursday. In a statement, Fitbit CEO James Park in a said,"With Ionic, we are focused on driving positive health outcomes and more health focused tools, and this collaboration is a wonderful example of how we plan to bring that vision to our users."
400 million people around the world have diabetes
According to the data from the World Health Organization, more than 400 million people around the world have diabetes. With the glucose level checking functionality coming to wearables, it will prove to be pretty helpful for diabetics patients to keep their glucose level in check. Other practices for glucose-tracking involve taking small blood samples, in comparison to that, trackers on smartwatches are more convenient and painless.
Fitbit's Ionic smartwatch debuted a week ago and is priced at $299.95. It is currently up for pre-ordering on the company's website and is expected to start shipping by the end of this month.
