New Fitbit app update will allow users to track their blood sugar level

Brett Molina, USA TODAY

Fitbit owners can soon keep track of their blood sugar level using the device's smartphone app.

Fitbit will roll out the feature within the app throughout February, the company announced Monday.

Users can either log the data themselves or have it imported from another device, such as a OneTouch glucose meter.

Within the app, users can set a personalized range to track when they're above or below the appropriate level. You can also add reminders so your Fitbit will remind you to track your blood glucose level. Users would still need to input their levels manually using a separate meter, as there are no current Fitbit devices capable of reading blood glucose directly.

The app will support importing data from the OneTouch Reveal app, with plans to support other blood glucose meters soon.

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The new blood glucose level tracking feature coming to the Fitbit app.
The new blood glucose level tracking feature coming to the Fitbit app.

What is blood glucose? it's what you end up with after body breaks down carbohydrates. Glucose, a simple sugar, is then absorbed into the bloodstream to fuel the body.

Doctors frequently task Type 2 diabetics, who have an impairment in the way their body regulates and uses glucose, with monitoring their blood sugar levels. According to the Mayo Clinic, a chronic excess of blood sugar can lead to high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks and other problems involving the circulatory, nervous and immune systems.

"With your details in one place, you can see how your blood glucose levels change throughout the day and are impacted by physical activity, food, sleep, and other lifestyle choices," Fitbit said in its release. "Then as you improve your long-term behaviors and optimize weight (for type 2 diabetes), see how your trends related to your blood glucose levels change over time."

The company, owned by Google, said it is also expanding free access to its Health Metrics dashboard to owners of the Inspire 2, Versa 2, and Charge 4 wearable devices. The dashboard can track data such as skin temperature and oxygen saturation, and provide users with data over extended periods of time.

Fitbit has established itself as a key player in the wearables markets, largely due to the success of its fitness trackers. Fitbit has also expanded its selection of smartwatches in recent years, competing with rivals such as the Apple Watch and Samsung's line of smartwatches.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fitbit app update supports blood-sugar level tracking

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