Huawei Introduces Diabetes Risk Awareness Feature On Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro

Huawei introduced a new wearable diabetes risk assessment feature at World Health Expo Dubai 2026, reinforcing its commitment to proactive, wearable-driven health management. The feature leverages non-invasive Photoplethysmography (PPG) technology and advanced smartwatch sensors to analyse wellness patterns and provide early alerts that may indicate potential diabetes risk. Designed to raise awareness rather than diagnose, the function encourages users to seek timely medical advice where necessary.

According to the 2024 report by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 589 million adults aged 20 to 79 are living with diabetes worldwide. Of these, 43% remain undiagnosed, and 81% live in low- and middle-income countries. In the MENA region alone, 85 million adults are affected by diabetes, a number expected to increase by 92% to 163 million by 2050. And in the UAE, diabetes prevalence among the adult population stands at 20.7%.

Recent breakthroughs in research have identified a shared genetic aetiology between resting heart rate and diabetes. In addition, diabetes-related microvascular arteriosclerosis and neuropathy have been found to affect PPG signals. Given the multitude of pathways through which diabetes can affect PPG readings, Huawei developed a feature that analyses blood sugar fluctuations using smartwatch-based PPG measurements. Users are required to wear the watch consistently on their wrist for between 3 to 14 days. Once the monitoring period is complete, the Diabetes Risk app categorises wellness patterns into Low, Medium, or High.

Huawei recommends that users categorised as Medium and High seek professional medical help for further advice for further diagnosis. The feature is designed to support preventative care by helping individuals recognise wellness patterns early and take preventative action. It does not measure precise blood glucose levels, nor is it intended to provide a medical diagnosis.

Professor Jiguang Wang, director of the Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, spoke at the event about the efficacy of wearable-based PPG technology as a reliable method for proactive health trend awareness. Professor Wang has collaborated with Huawei to advance wearable health management. He played a key role in the development of the HUAWEI WATCH D, Huawei’s first blood pressure monitoring smartwatch, and the subsequent HUAWEI WATCH D2.

Huawei has already made the feature available on the HUAWEI WATCH GT 6 Pro through an OTA update, with broader compatibility across additional smartwatch models planned for the near future. While the feature is safe for all users and has no known side effects or contraindications, it is not intended to replace professional diabetes screening or diagnosis.