Apple has reportedly been working for many years to bring noninvasive glucose monitoring to the Apple Watch. And according to a new report, the project might have recently hit a notable turning point. The development is particularly significant given that noninvasive glucose monitoring has long been considered a Holy Grail in wearable health technology, with numerous companies attempting and failing to create a reliable solution.
Apple Watch glucose monitoring project has a new leader, which some see as key sign of progress
This weekend in his Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman wrote about the future of the Apple Watch. He shared what to expect from watchOS 27 and provided an update on a key moonshot project in the works. Gurman, known for his reliable Apple scoops, detailed that Apple's noninvasive glucose monitoring initiative—first conceived during the Steve Jobs era—has undergone a critical leadership transition. The project aims to develop sensors capable of detecting elevated blood sugar levels without requiring finger pricks or blood draws, a breakthrough that would revolutionize diabetes management for millions worldwide.
Recently, Apple shifted oversight of the project from platform architecture chief Tim Millet to Zongjian Chen, the senior engineering leader overseeing the Advanced Technologies Group and hardware like modems. Some view the transition as a sign the work may finally be progressing to a point where Chen, known as someone who delivers, can ramp up development of the technology into an eventual consumer-grade offering. This move is part of a larger reorganization under hardware chief Johny Srouji, reflecting Apple's intensified focus on health-related technologies.
This leadership transition was originally mentioned in a report last week, among many other Johny Srouji-driven shakeups. However, the context of how this move is being perceived within Apple is important. If Chen is known inside the company as “someone who delivers,” and this transition is seen as a sign of progress, then the transfer of responsibility from Millet to Chen could signal a key milestone being reached. Millet, who has overseen the project for years, is a respected architect, but Chen's track record of bringing advanced technologies to market—such as Apple's custom modem chips—suggests a shift from pure research to productization.
That doesn’t mean we’ll see the Apple Watch gain noninvasive glucose monitoring this year, or even next year. It could still be several years away. However, this movement of responsibility is an encouraging sign of Apple making meaningful progress toward accomplishing its moonshot goal. Industry analysts point out that the challenges of optical glucose sensing are immense; absorbing light through the skin and accurately measuring glucose concentration in interstitial fluid requires sophisticated algorithms and miniaturized components. Apple has reportedly been working on a silicon photonics chip that can shine a laser through the skin to detect glucose levels, a technology that could eventually be integrated into the Watch’s sensor array.
The noninvasive glucose monitoring project is one of Apple’s most ambitious health initiatives, alongside sensors for blood pressure, body temperature, and sleep apnea detection. The company has already made strides with the Apple Watch Series 10, which introduced sleep apnea detection and a refined temperature sensor. Blood glucose monitoring, however, has proven far more difficult. Competitors like Dexcom and Abbott have developed continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) that stick to the skin and use a tiny filament, but these still require calibration and replacement every few weeks. A fully noninvasive, needle-free solution would give Apple a massive advantage in the wearable market, potentially opening the door to the over 500 million adults worldwide living with diabetes.
Zongjian Chen, who now leads the project, joined Apple in 2019 from Intel, where he was a senior director of engineering. At Apple, he quickly rose to lead the Advanced Technologies Group, overseeing the development of custom modems, wireless chips, and other cutting-edge hardware. His promotion within the glucose monitoring team is seen as a vote of confidence in the technology's readiness for the next phase. Chen’s background in delivering complex silicon solutions aligns perfectly with the need to miniaturize and mass-produce the sensor module for use in a wearable device.
Tim Millet, who previously oversaw the project, is a veteran Apple engineer responsible for platform architecture, including the design of the company’s A-series and M-series chips. While Millet remains highly regarded, the transfer of responsibility may reflect a natural progression: once a research project reaches a certain maturity, it moves from the architecture team to a group specialized in manufacturing and commercial delivery. This is a pattern Apple has used before with other technologies, such as Face ID and the T2 security chip.
The timeline for a consumer release remains unclear. Some reports suggest Apple is targeting a launch around 2028 or later, but given the pace of innovation, an earlier debut cannot be ruled out. The FDA regulatory pathway would also add time, as continuous glucose monitors are classified as medical devices. Apple has already worked with the FDA on the ECG app and atrial fibrillation detection, so the company is familiar with the approval process. However, a noninvasive sensor would likely require extensive clinical trials to prove accuracy comparable to traditional blood draws or fingerstick meters.
Beyond the technical and regulatory hurdles, Apple must also consider the privacy implications of collecting sensitive health data. Blood glucose readings could reveal information about diet, activity, and even potential prediabetic or diabetic conditions. Apple has consistently prioritized user privacy in its health features, processing data on-device with the Secure Enclave and offering health records sharing through the Health app. Any glucose monitoring feature would likely follow the same privacy-first approach, giving users control over who accesses their data.
The potential impact on public health is enormous. For people with diabetes, noninvasive monitoring would eliminate the pain and inconvenience of frequent finger pricks, leading to better adherence to monitoring schedules and improved glycemic control. For those at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, early detection through continuous monitoring could enable lifestyle interventions that prevent or delay onset. And for fitness enthusiasts, glucose data could provide insights into energy levels and nutrition timing, further integrating health metrics into daily life.
Apple has a history of entering health categories with a long-term view. The Apple Watch started as a fitness tracker, then added heart rate monitoring, ECG, blood oxygen, and temperature sensing. Each iteration has incrementally added more advanced capabilities. The glucose monitoring feature would represent a quantum leap, but Apple has demonstrated patience and commitment to perfecting technologies before release. The recent leadership change is another data point suggesting that patience may soon be rewarded.
In the broader wearable market, other companies are also racing toward noninvasive glucose monitoring. Samsung has been rumored to work on similar technology for the Galaxy Watch, and startup companies like Know Labs have been developing wearable sensors that use radiofrequency technology. However, none have yet delivered a commercially viable product that meets accuracy standards. Apple’s deep pockets, integrated hardware-software ecosystem, and experience in health sensing give it a unique advantage in bringing such a feature to market.
As with all Apple health features, the company is likely to emphasize ease of use and reliability. The sensor would need to work continuously without user intervention, displaying glucose trends in the Health app and sending alerts if levels spike or drop dangerously. Integration with existing diabetes management apps, insulin pumps, and continuous glucose monitors from other manufacturers could also be part of the broader ecosystem play, similar to how Apple Health aggregates data from third-party devices.
For now, the Apple Watch glucose monitoring project remains a closely guarded secret within Apple, with only glimpses of progress emerging through supply chain reports and executive reshuffling. But the appointment of Zongjian Chen, a proven deliverer of complex hardware projects, is the strongest signal yet that Apple believes it is on the cusp of a breakthrough. While consumers should not expect to see the feature on the next Apple Watch release, the foundation is being laid for a future where managing one's blood sugar could be as simple as glancing at a wrist.
Source: 9to5Mac News