Google is also introducing a tool designed to track trends related to insulin resistance.
NEW YORK — Google announced a new generation of health and wellness features for its smartwatches, including tools designed to track blood pressure and insulin resistance trends without needles or blood samples.
The features, expected to roll out this fall, were unveiled alongside the new Pixel Watch 5 and represent an expansion of Google’s efforts to use wearable technology and artificial intelligence to provide users with more information about their overall health.
Four new capabilities were announced: insulin resistance trends, blood pressure trends, sleep breathing quality and respiratory emergency detection.
Google stressed that the tools are intended for general wellness purposes and are not designed to diagnose, treat, mitigate or cure medical conditions. The company said users may share the information collected by their devices with healthcare professionals as an additional source of data.
Monthly Blood Pressure Insights
Rather than alerting users to individual daily fluctuations, Google’s blood pressure feature analyzes patterns over an entire month.
The smartwatch monitors movement and pulse patterns throughout the day and during sleep. On the first day of each month, users receive a contextualized summary of their trends.
If persistently elevated patterns are detected, the system may recommend lifestyle adjustments, such as adding a 15-minute walk, and encourage users to confirm their readings using a traditional blood pressure monitor.
Tracking Metabolic Trends Without Needles
Google is also introducing a tool designed to track trends related to insulin resistance, providing users with information about how efficiently their bodies process energy from food.
The feature uses sensors on the wrist and artificial intelligence to analyze several indicators, including heart rate, sleep quality and daily movement.
Unlike traditional glucose-related measurements, Google’s system does not require needles or blood samples.
Both insulin resistance and blood pressure trend tracking are expected to become available this fall on Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Watch 5, as well as Fitbit devices.
Watch Can Detect a Respiratory Emergency
Another feature focuses on potentially dangerous changes in breathing.
The optional respiratory emergency detection tool can identify when a user’s blood oxygen level falls dangerously low.
If the wearer becomes unconscious, the smartwatch initiates an audible countdown. If there is no response, it can automatically contact emergency services and designated emergency contacts.
The feature is expected to be available on Pixel Watch 4 and Pixel Watch 5 in several European countries.
However, Google noted that the respiratory emergency feature has not been authorized or evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The new capabilities highlight the expanding role of wearable technology in personal health monitoring, as technology companies increasingly integrate AI and advanced sensors into consumer devices while drawing a distinction between wellness information and formal medical diagnosis.
