Are you interested in the latest computer hardware technology? If so, today might just be your lucky day! On Thursday, September 7, Fitbit, Inc. (NYSE:$FIT) announced that it has entered into partnership with glucose monitor company Dexcom (NASDAQ:$DXCM)
What brought this collaboration on? Well, for starters, wearable fitness manufacturers are becoming more and more interested in tracking our vitals. Luckily, Fitbit has realized this and thanks to the company’s new collaboration with Dexcom, the San Francisco-based company plans to develop and market products to help those with diabetes better manage the disease. And to top off the good news, this process is all going to start with Fitbit’s Ionic Smartwatch.
Starting next year, the Fitbit Iconic will allow users to see data from the Dexcom G5 Mobile sensor, which is worn under the skin and has the ability to show vitals every five minutes. Keep in mind this means an individual will have to purchase the $900 sensor first.
For those who don’t know, the Dexcom sensor is also supported by the Apple Watch, via a reroute through the iPhone. However, the sensor will soon be on the Watch via core Bluetooth, which will be coming in watchOS4.
As exciting as this news may be, there are a couple downfalls. First and foremost, tracking using Fitbit and Apple Watch can be rather difficult if you can’t afford Dexcom’s monitoring device. With that being said, for those with the device already implanted, it could prove to be extremely useful. As of right now, there are more than 422 million people around the world with diabetes, a fraction of whom are thought to be using a wearable for tracking their blood glucose levels on a daily basis.
“The collaboration between Dexcom and Fitbit is an important step in providing useful information to people with diabetes that is both convenient and discreet,” said Kevin Saye, Dexcom CEO. “We believe that providing Dexcom CGM data on Fitbit Ionic, and making that experience available to users of both Android and iOS devices, will have a positive impact on the way people manage their diabetes.”
Featured Image: twitter
