FitBit has stepped up its game for 2018 and is looking to get into blood sugar tracking game. FitBit has serious intentions to make advancements in the field of health technology. The famous wearable company has recently invested $6 million in a new glucose-monitoring startup called Sano.
Sano is a San Francisco based company that is working on finding a way to make glucose monitoring as minimally invasive as possible. They have successfully developed a continuous glucose monitor which can be worn as a patch on the skin. In contrast to Apple’s approach of finding a non-invasive glucose monitor, Sano’s approach is to make a coin-sized patch with tiny needles that take glucose measurements.
Non-invasive glucose monitoring has been the Holy Grail for diabetic treatment, but the tech companies are still far away from finding a solution for that. It is almost impossible to gain accurate readings without breaking the skin. This is the reason why Sano’s approach is being regarded as a step in the right direction. It is minimally invasive, as it test interstitial fluid just below the skin, making it less painful for diabetics.
FitBit’s CEO James Park told CNBC, “This fits into our strategy of looking beyond the device and thinking more about (health) solutions,”
“I think the complete solution comes in the form of having some monitoring solution that is coupled with a display, and a wearable that can give you the interventions at the right moment.”
FitBit has suffered market share losses due to its competitors, Apple and Xiaomi. This new relationship with Sano might be the thing Fitbit needs to reclaim its foothold in the tech market.
