The Apple Heart and Movement Study and Apple Women's Health Study highlighted some of the many challenges people living with diabetes face every day, including maintaining a target range throughout a menstrual cycle
Singapore, 15 November 2023 - As part of raising awarness for World Diabetes Day (14 November), Apple shared new findings from two of its landmark studies conducted since 2019, in the hope of raising awareness and encouraging action.
On the new findings, researchers from Harvard and Brigham & Women’s Hospital saw:
On Activity:
— As participants increased either the average duration of exercise or the average number of steps taken on a given day, there was a corresponding increase in the average percentage of time glucose fell within the target range of 70-180 mg/dL.
— People who exercised more than 30 minutes per day spent 78.8% of spent in the target range of 70-180 mg/dL
— Participants who identified as female and walked more than 10,000 steps per day saw the most time spent in the target range of 70-180 mg/dL, compared to 76.4% of participants who identified as male.
On Menstrual Cycle:
— Analyses of glucose levels across 1,982 menstrual cycles highlighted a slight increase in time spent within the target range of 70-180 mg/dL during the follicular phase when progesterone levels are lower (68.5% of day) compared to the luteal phase (66.8% of day).
— Participants also spent slightly less time above range during the follicular phase (28.9%) when compared to the luteal phase (30.9%).
— Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and a body mass index greater than 30kg/m2 can also increase resistance to insulin and subsequently glucose levels. Researchers analyzed a subset of participants with these conditions and found less time within the range of 70-180 mg/dL during the follicular phase than participants who did not report these conditions 63.9% vs. 72.1%. This trend was also seen during the luteal phase 62.7% time in range vs. 69.9%.
Researchers reinforce that early detection of diabetes and intensive glucose management can reduce the risk and severity of many complications. You can read more about diabetes here from Beyond Type 1.
Based on these new research insights — as well as additional input from people with diabetes — Apple is highlighting five features on iPhone and Apple Watch that can be useful for those with diabetes, including Activity, Cycle Tracking, Sleep, Medical ID, and third-party apps.
Apple introduced the advanced new Apple Watch Series 9
In September 2023, Apple announced the new Apple Watch series 9, featuring breakthrough capabilities for the world’s most popular watch and Apple’s first carbon neutral products
Apple shared that its Watch Series 9 is more powerful than ever with the new S9 SiP, which increases performance and capabilities; a magical new double tap gesture; a brighter display; faster on-device Siri, now with the ability to access and log health data; Precision Finding for iPhone; and more.
Powerful New S9 SiP
Apple’s most powerful watch chip yet, the all-new S9 SiP, delivers systemwide improvements and brand-new features, including a new double tap gesture and on-device Siri with the ability to access and log health data privately and securely.
Apple Watch Series 9 also has a new 4-core Neural Engine that can process machine learning tasks up to twice as fast, when compared with Apple Watch Series 8. The power efficiency of the S9 SiP allows Apple Watch Series 9 to maintain all-day 18-hour battery life.
Double Tap Gesture
Innovations such as the Digital Crown and Taptic Engine — along with gestures like tap, swipe, wrist raise, and cover to mute — make Apple Watch simple and intuitive to use. With a new double tap gesture, users can easily control Apple Watch Series 9 using just one hand and without touching the display. Users can tap the index finger and thumb of their watch hand together twice to quickly and conveniently perform many of the most common actions on Apple Watch Series 9.
Double tap controls the primary button in an app so it can be used to stop a timer, play and pause music, or snooze an alarm. The gesture can be used to answer and end a phone call, and even to take a photo with the Camera Remote on Apple Watch. Double tap will also open the Smart Stack from the watch face, and another double tap will scroll through widgets in the stack.
This new double tap gesture is enabled by the faster Neural Engine in Apple Watch Series 9, which processes data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and optical heart sensor with a new machine learning algorithm. The algorithm detects the unique signature of tiny wrist movements and changes in blood flow when the index finger and thumb perform a double tap.
On-Device Siri with Ability to Access and Log Health Data
For the first time on Apple Watch, Siri requests can be processed on device. For requests that do not require information from the internet, such as starting a workout or setting a timer, Siri does not rely on Wi-Fi or cellular networks, resulting in quicker and more reliable responses. The powerful Neural Engine also makes dictation up to 25 percent more accurate than Apple Watch Series 8.
On-device processing is private and secure, and now Siri can be used to access data from the Health app for health- and fitness-related queries. For example, a user can ask how many hours of sleep they had the previous night, for progress on closing their Activity rings, or about their blood glucose level if they have a connected monitor. Users can also make Siri requests on Apple Watch Series 9 to log health data such as their weight, period, or medications taken.
Featuring watchOS 10
Apple Watch Series 9 runs watchOS 10, a milestone update that includes:
- A fresh approach to quickly view information with redesigned apps and a new Smart Stack to show relevant widgets right when they’re needed.
- Delightful new watch faces: Snoopy, Palette, and Solar Analog. A new Nike watch face, Nike Globe, lights up the lines on the globe with each passing second.
- Bluetooth connectivity for power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors arrives for cyclists, unlocking new metrics and Workout Views, and cycling workouts.
- A cycling workout can automatically show up as a Live Activity on iPhone and utilise the full screen when tapped.
- New Compass Waypoints and Maps capabilities to further help during outdoor adventures.
- Additional tools to support mental health with state of mind logging in the Mindfulness app.
- The ability to measure time spent in daylight using the ambient light sensor to help reduce the risk of myopia and provide additional benefits to physical and mental health for all ages.
- The new Smart Stack is shown on Apple Watch Series 9 with the Sport Loop.
- The new Snoopy watch face is shown on Apple Watch Series 9 with the Solo Loop.
- The new Palette watch face is shown on Apple Watch Series 9 with the Milanese Loop.
- The new Solar Analog watch face is shown on Apple Watch Series 9 with the Braided Solo Loop.
- A cyclist’s workout stats are shown on Apple Watch Series 9 with the Sport Loop.
- The compass app is shown on Apple Watch Series 9 with the Sport Loop.
- The Mindfulness app’s state of mind logging screen is shown in watchOS 10 on Apple Watch Series 9 with the Magnetic Link.
Carbon Neutral Models
Select case and band combinations of Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple Watch SE are Apple’s first-ever carbon neutral products. As part of Apple 2030, the carbon footprint of Apple Watch has been significantly decreased.
Emissions were reduced from the three biggest sources of greenhouse gases — materials, electricity, and transportation. The small amount of emissions remaining are offset with high-quality carbon credits from nature-based projects. Apple Watch packaging has been redesigned to be 100 percent fiber-based, and a new logo on the packaging indicates models that are carbon neutral.
Line-up
Apple Watch Series 9 is available in 41mm and 45mm sizes in starlight, midnight, silver, (PRODUCT)RED, and a new pink aluminium case, as well as stainless steel in gold, silver, and graphite cases.
Any aluminium Apple Watch Series 9 with a new Sport Loop band is carbon neutral.
Apple Watch SE is available in 40mm and 44mm aluminium cases, and is carbon neutral when paired with a new Sport Loop band.
Apple Watch Hermès is available in stainless steel in silver and space black.
Bands
Apple is introducing FineWoven, a luxurious and durable microtwill made of 68 percent post-consumer recycled content that has significantly lower carbon emissions compared to leather.
FineWoven has a suedelike feel, and is available with the Magnetic Link and Modern Buckle bands. Starting today, Apple will no longer use leather in any new Apple product, including watch bands.
The popular Sport Loop band has been redesigned to include 82 percent recycled yarn. All new Apple Watch Sport Loops are carbon neutral.
Apple worked with Nike and Hermès on more environmentally friendly band collections. The Nike Sport Band now contains 32 percent or more recycled fluoroelastomer, including colourful flakes made from excess bands that create a randomised pattern, making each band unique, while the Nike Sport Loop with a space-dye pattern repurposes yarn from previous seasons.
A new collection of Hermès bands draws on the house’s rich history in textiles and craftsmanship. Two new woven bands are introduced: Toile H is an interpretation of the brand’s signature checked canvas, and Twill Jump is a rich solid colour with contrasting details. The first-ever knitted band for Apple Watch, Bridon, is hand-braided with a bold chevron pattern, while Kilim is made of sporty, waterproof moulded rubber and has a deployment buckle. A classic new watch face, Hermès Radial, complements these four new band styles.
Pricing and Availability
Customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Singapore, the UAE, the U.K., the U.S., and more than 40 other countries and regions can order Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch SE today, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 22.
Apple Watch Series 9 starts at S$599, and Apple Watch SE starts at S$379.
Apple Watch bands, Apple Watch Nike bands, and Apple Watch Hermès bands will be available to order today from apple.com/sg/store and in the Apple Store app, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 22.
watchOS 10 will be available for Apple Watch Series 4 and later on Monday, September 18, and requires iPhone XS or later running iOS 17. Not all features are available on all devices and in all regions.
For more information on Apple 2030, visit apple.com/sg/2030.