Apple Stores start selling One Drop blood glucose monitors
Apple has commenced sales of the One Drop blood glucose monitor in a small number of its retail outlets, bringing the Health app-compatible diabetes management device to its physical stores for the first time.
The One Drop is a compact blood glucose monitor that works with the iOS Health app and the Apple Watch. Connecting by Bluetooth, the device draws a small amount of blood to measure the user's blood glucose level, which is then recorded in the Health app for tracking over time.
Currently sold via the online Apple Store, CNBC reports the One Drop is being offered in a selection of brick-and-mortar Apple Stores. In both locations, the kit is being sold for $69.95, with store purchases also including a year of free coaching from a certified diabetes educator via the One Drop app.
The One Drop is not the first product of its kind to be sold by Apple in its stores. Previously the iBGStar meter was carried, but sales ceased after Apple switched from legacy 30-pin connectors to Lightning.
The addition of the device to stores may be a way for Apple to offer diabetes management to its customers before it can develop its own product. Apple was rumored to be previously testing a prototype of a blood sugar monitor, and has applied for patents for non-invasive glucose monitoring, which could feasibly be used on the Apple Watch to expand its capabilities.
One Drop's sale is also another indicator Apple is keen on pressing further into the healthcare space, on top of its existing work with the Apple Watch. Analysts suggest Apple is aiming to make a consumer-centric ecosystem for healthcare devices and services, which could help it take part of the $3.5 trillion healthcare industry.
In May, Apple reportedly acquired Tueo Health, a startup developing asthma-tracking technology, specifically for use by sleeping kids. Apple also used WWDC to reveal new features relating to hearing health in HealthKit.
The One Drop is a compact blood glucose monitor that works with the iOS Health app and the Apple Watch. Connecting by Bluetooth, the device draws a small amount of blood to measure the user's blood glucose level, which is then recorded in the Health app for tracking over time.
Currently sold via the online Apple Store, CNBC reports the One Drop is being offered in a selection of brick-and-mortar Apple Stores. In both locations, the kit is being sold for $69.95, with store purchases also including a year of free coaching from a certified diabetes educator via the One Drop app.
The One Drop is not the first product of its kind to be sold by Apple in its stores. Previously the iBGStar meter was carried, but sales ceased after Apple switched from legacy 30-pin connectors to Lightning.
The addition of the device to stores may be a way for Apple to offer diabetes management to its customers before it can develop its own product. Apple was rumored to be previously testing a prototype of a blood sugar monitor, and has applied for patents for non-invasive glucose monitoring, which could feasibly be used on the Apple Watch to expand its capabilities.
One Drop's sale is also another indicator Apple is keen on pressing further into the healthcare space, on top of its existing work with the Apple Watch. Analysts suggest Apple is aiming to make a consumer-centric ecosystem for healthcare devices and services, which could help it take part of the $3.5 trillion healthcare industry.
In May, Apple reportedly acquired Tueo Health, a startup developing asthma-tracking technology, specifically for use by sleeping kids. Apple also used WWDC to reveal new features relating to hearing health in HealthKit.
Comments
Against this option is the Continuous Glucose Monitoring that tests the blood every 5 or so minutes and sends the results to the monitor/iPhone. The Medicare approved version I'm looking at (iDexcom G5) requires a baseline stick once a day. The next version needs no finger sticks. Both provide a far more aggressive monitoring than finger sticks so the key is going to be insurance reimbursement t.
Apple is testing the market with customer research before releasing a glucose reading Apple Watch later this year.....
1. The One Drop lancets (the pointy things that poke your finger) are clumsy and a pain in the butt to use, imho. They cost about 15¢/lancet.
2. The Accu-Chek Fastclix Lancing device and Lancets are easy to use, imho. They cost about 7¢/lancet.
3. The One Drop test strips run about 50¢/strip. The going rate for Amazon's generic "Choice" test strips is about 17¢/strip.
4. Amazon's generic "Choice" meter ($24) also supports Bluetooth and HealthKit.
Do the math. At 2 to 4 tests per day it really adds up.
Last I looked Medicare only approves $10.50 for a vial of 50 strips and only to low bid suppliers.
Who knows for sure the initial cost and then ongoing monthly cost for DexCom, Abbott Libra, and Medtronic
Leave it to the Cult of Apple to try and pass something off as new and innovative that's been around for the last 40 yrs, and charge an over inflated price. The price of this shiny new meter, is the copay for a 6 mo supply of strips. Oh and my old non shiny meter, synchs up to both mine and my doc's computers so we can both see and monitor my bld sugars.
Typical iOS user, and why on earth would I want an Apple watch let alone an iPhone?
Long Live Android✊✊✊
The One Drop app isn't bad. It will log your readings, carbs and calories, meds, and other health statistics like weight and blood pressure. I prefer mySugr as it has more direct data entry and much better reports. My doctor loves the detail.
We are more worried about how to lower our blood glucose count than monitoring it every second.
With my excperience for about 15 years going through this unreversable disease , during those 15 yrs. I have purchased the blood g. monitors only 2 times . I found out that the best posible way would be to measure blood G.(A1c homoglubin ) every 3 to 4 months with help of an endocrinologist specialist so it can put your mind at ease.