A newly published Samsung patent describes how a future wearable could use conventional glucose measurements to calibrate its own non-invasive glucose estimates. Samsung published the European version of the patent this month, although the underlying filing dates back to 2023.

The system could pair optical signals collected from the wrist with reference readings from an external glucose monitor. Over time, those paired measurements would create a personalised model linking an individual user’s sensor signals with their glucose levels.

Teaching a wearable what glucose looks like

Samsung’s patent describes a wearable that shines light into the skin and analyses the reflected signal. The device could then ask the user to take a reference glucose measurement, including from an existing continuous glucose monitor, and match the two readings.

The calibration would happen repeatedly. Samsung describes using movement, heart rate and other signals to identify useful measurement periods, including around waking, meals and exercise. If the relationship later changes, the system could request new reference readings to update the model.

Personalisation could help account for factors that complicate optical glucose sensing, including differences in skin properties and physiology. The patent does not establish a new model for non-invasive glucose measurement, but it gives a clearer picture of how Samsung looks to approach one of its central challenges.

Samsung keeps building towards wrist-based glucose

The filing sits within a much larger Samsung glucose programme. The company has published recent patents covering multiple optical wavelengths, laser-based sensing, short-wave infrared technology and even wearable HbA1c estimation.

Samsung has also worked with MIT on Raman-based glucose sensing since at least 2020. This month, Samsung digital-health executive Jong-min Choi again named non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring as a long-term Galaxy Watch goal, while giving no commercial timeline.

The opportunity is significant. Current CGMs from companies such as Abbott and Dexcom continuously measure glucose using small sensors inserted under the skin. A wrist wearable that could deliver useful glucose data without disposable sensors would change both the user experience and economics of continuous monitoring.