Blood Glucose Smartwatch Claims Are Fake – Regulator Confirms
Kudos for action by the German regulator. No smartwatches measure blood glucose. Don’t get fooled by scams.
Germany’s Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has stepped in against smartwatches that falsely advertise non-invasive, blood glucose measurement, reinforcing a key fact: there is currently no smartwatch capable of reliably measuring blood sugar without an external medical sensor.
As part of its 2025 surveillance activities, the regulator identified smartwatches sold in Germany that claimed to measure blood glucose levels but were, in reality, only simulating values rather than performing any genuine physiological measurement. Such devices were flagged as non-compliant and removed from sale.
In total, the agency found 1,266 suspicious online listings last year, accounting for an estimated five million units sold. Smartwatches represented the largest share of violations, driven both by fake health claims and failures to comply with EU radio equipment regulations.
Independent testing and regulatory bodies are aligned on the underlying issue. There is no consumer wearable — smartwatch or ring — approved to non-invasively measure blood glucose without pairing to an external continuous glucose monitor (CGM – like Abbot Libre). Claims suggesting otherwise are misleading and potentially dangerous, particularly for users with diabetes who may rely on inaccurate data for health decisions.
The intervention highlights a growing regulatory focus on misleading health features in low-cost wearables — and serves as a reminder that, despite frequent marketing claims, blood glucose measurement remains outside the capabilities of today’s smartwatches.
Sources
- Bundesnetzagentur press release (05.02.2026)
- Smartwatches fake blood sugar readings as Germany’s regulator steps in, NotebookCheck.net
Source and original research by: the5krunner and NotebookCheck.
Last Updated on 3 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. See the gear tfk uses. ID
