Google Pixel Watch 5 Adds Insulin Resistance Tracking Feature

Google is introducing a new health feature for its wearable devices that can track changes in insulin resistance over time, marking a significant step toward broader blood-sugar monitoring through consumer technology. The feature, announced alongside the company’s latest Pixel devices, will not directly measure glucose levels or continuously monitor blood sugar. Instead, Google will use artificial intelligence and data from sensors including an accelerometer, barometer, heart-rate monitor and skin-temperature sensor to identify physiological patterns associated with insulin resistance.

The feature will be part of Google Health’s new set of tools called Health Guardian, which is designed to identify subtle changes in the body and help users take proactive steps. The Google Health app will notify users when it detects signs that their insulin resistance may have changed. Users can then consider lifestyle adjustments or consult a doctor. Google stressed that the feature is not intended to diagnose or treat medical conditions. High insulin resistance, if left unmanaged, can contribute to conditions including prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

Google said the insulin-resistance feature was developed using training data from more than 100,000 people to identify relationships between subtle physiological changes and insulin resistance. The company’s lead Pixel Watch product manager, Francis Ho, said the objective is to highlight changes that people may otherwise overlook. The company is also adding features that monitor changes in blood-pressure trends and nighttime breathing patterns, bringing several health-tracking capabilities together under the Health Guardian system.

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The move comes as several technology companies explore ways to bring blood-sugar insights to consumer wearables. Whoop is examining the use of blood-glucose monitor data, while Oura Health received a $75 million investment from medical-device company Dexcom in 2024 to support data sharing and cross-selling. Apple has also tested a blood-sugar-related app aimed at people with prediabetes. Google users can additionally connect continuous glucose monitors through the Health Connect platform, while the company has begun integrating insights from Abbott Laboratories’ Lingo continuous glucose monitor into Google Health.

The new capabilities will initially arrive on the Pixel Watch 5 and Fitbit Air before being expanded to other compatible devices. The Pixel Watch 5, unveiled at Google’s Wednesday event in New York, will be available in 41mm and 45mm versions, with prices starting at $399 and $429 respectively for Wi-Fi models. Google said the watch features improved GPS, faster performance and 50% more memory, while a strength-training feature providing step-by-step guidance will be introduced after launch. A special Stephen Curry edition is priced at $579 and is scheduled to become available on September 3.

Google said its broader objective is to use increasingly sophisticated sensors and artificial intelligence to help users understand how everyday habits affect their health. Ho said advances in sensors and AI could eventually enable more comprehensive glucose monitoring through consumer devices, although the technology remains under development. For now, the insulin-resistance feature represents an attempt to identify potentially important physiological trends without directly measuring blood glucose, giving users another way to monitor changes that could warrant lifestyle adjustments or professional medical advice.

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