Apple is reportedly making a big fix to its Health app in response to a report that the software is not compatible with blood glucose measurements used in Australia and the United Kingdom, according to a CNET report.
The initial fix will be a software update that will disable some app elements while a more in-depth fix is in the works. Apple's healthcare data hub HealthKit lets users enter blood glucose data from various devices that may be using different units of measurement, such as milligrams per deciliter in the U.S. and millimoles per litre (mmol/L) in Australia. Incompatible measurement results can be serious and pose life threatening situations as glucose monitoring is vital to managing chronic health issues such as diabetes and hypoglycemia, according to the CNET report.
HealthKit, according to an Apple support site post on Oct. 15, supports both units of measurement. However, users measuring blood glucose via a device tapping mmol/L measurement can't manually enter that data in the Health app, acknowledges the company.
"To prevent confusion in countries where mmol/L is commonly used, we'll soon release a software update that will temporarily remove the ability to manually enter and view blood glucose values in the Health app while we work on an update to support both units of measurement," Apple stated the post.
The glucose measurement snafu comes within a month of another challenge with HealthKit and software compatibility. In mid-September, a bug with HealthKit prevented apps from linking with the platform.
In addition, Apple's HealthKit debut this June ignited a flurry of concerns from healthcare experts and industry watchers regarding data sharing, privacy and use of medical terms.
The Health app measurement news illustrates a key reason medical professionals have been slow to embrace mHealth tools. Data accuracy, as well as data security given federal healthcare mandates, are top reasons doctors and caregivers are not jumping on the mHealth bandwagon.
For more information:
- read the CNET report
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