In Good Health // How Wearable Technology is Transforming Women’s Health

In a world increasingly driven by technology, a quiet revolution is transforming how women approach their health. Empowerment, innovation, and personalised care are taking centre stage, particularly as women navigate the complexities of conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and perimenopause.

With 8% to 30% of women in the GCC countries affected by PCOS. This statistic highlights the urgent need for targeted healthcare solutions, as women often experience frustration in their search for effective management strategies, frequently consulting multiple healthcare providers without receiving comprehensive care.

Emerging technologies, particularly wearable devices, offer a transformative approach to women's health management in this manner. Wearables such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and advanced sleep trackers, including the Oura Ring, provide real-time data that empower women to understand and manage their health actively. Oura’s recent innovations, particularly its women-specific features for monitoring menstrual cycles, sleep, and stress, represent a significant step forward in addressing the unique needs of women during pivotal health transitions. By integrating these technologies into daily health practices, women can access personalized insights that enhance their ability to manage symptoms and improve overall wellness.

As we explore how wearable tech is reshaping women's healthcare in the Middle East, we will focus on its potential to address the specific needs of women dealing with PCOS and perimenopause.

// The Importance of Wearables in Addressing PCOS and Perimenopause

Conditions like PCOS and perimenopause affect millions of women globally and are especially common in the Middle East. PCOS, for instance, can disrupt menstrual cycles, cause insulin resistance, and lead to long-term metabolic risks, including diabetes. Similarly, perimenopause—the transitional period leading up to menopause—can bring a wave of symptoms like sleep disturbances, mood swings, and erratic hormonal changes. These symptoms are often complex and misunderstood, leaving many women struggling to find clear answers from healthcare providers.

Wearable technology offers a new dimension of self-understanding by tracking symptoms daily and allowing women to observe trends over time. For example, the Oura Ring helps users track physical activity and sleep. It integrates newer women's health features like period prediction, HRV monitoring, and personalized insights for navigating hormonal fluctuations.

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs), such as the Dexcom G7 CGM, offer a revolutionary approach to understanding the body's response to food, stress, and physical activity. This can be particularly valuable for women with insulin resistance associated with PCOS, as they can see how their blood glucose levels fluctuate throughout the day and make lifestyle adjustments accordingly. CGMs track glucose levels in real time and send data directly to a smartphone, allowing users to make informed dietary and lifestyle decisions without constant doctor visits.

The future of health will mean the integration of continuous glucose monitoring data and wearables into clinical records and monitored continuously by care teams.. . This enables women to receive personalized insights and support tailored to their specific health needs, transforming the technology as a standard part of their healthcare journey. Medication management becomes much more effective when done in conjunction with real-time behavioral change.

// Interpreting Wearable Data: Empowerment Through Information

One of the challenges for many users of wearable devices is understanding and acting on the data they receive. A number may show up on the screen, but how does it translate to meaningful health choices? GluCare.Health, a hybrid metabolic health platform in Dubai, recently launched one of the world’s first women’s health programs which uses real-time data from wearable devices such as the Dexcom CGM and Oura Ring, to be analyzed by a multidisciplinary team through the GluCare app.. The team of metabolic health experts provides clear, personalized recommendations based on real-time patient data. This approach ensures reliable, accurate, and personalized insights that is used to support patients in making informed decisions.

For instance, women dealing with PCOS may observe patterns between high-stress days and blood glucose spikes, while those experiencing perimenopausal symptoms can learn how sleep quality impacts their mood and energy. This approach allows wearable data to move beyond mere statistics, making it a powerful tool for everyday health decisions and allows for further optimization of medication use.

// Addressing the Healthcare Gaps in Women’s Health

The women's health concerns, especially those related to hormonal and reproductive health, have been under-researched and often mismanaged. This is where wearable technology makes a significant difference, offering a data-driven, individualized perspective usually missing in traditional healthcare. By equipping women with real-time insights into their body's responses, wearables provide an accessible way for women to take control of their health and avoid the pitfalls of episodic, one-size-fits-all healthcare.

Wearable data allows people to monitor subtle changes that could go unnoticed. This is particularly valuable in cultures where women may be less likely to seek immediate care due to cultural or systemic barriers. In the Middle East, for instance, studies indicate that a significant portion of women experience gaps in receiving consistent, effective treatment for conditions like PCOS and perimenopause due to outdated healthcare models centered only on medication therapy. . Wearable technology can help bridge these gaps by providing continuous health monitoring and personalized insights.

// Embracing the Future of Women’s Health

It is clear that traditional care models for the treatment of PCOS and perimenopause, centered purely on medications, are limited in their capability to bring a whole-health approach. As wearable technology becomes more integrated into everyday healthcare, it offers women a valuable tool to address health issues that have historically been misunderstood or inadequately treated. With a deeper understanding of conditions like PCOS and perimenopause through continuous health monitoring, women can take charge of their health in ways that empower them to make informed decisions. Healthcare providers that incorporate these technologies are setting a new standard for women's healthcare, one that embraces each patient's unique needs through personalized, data-backed solutions, signaling a promising future for women's health.

// Zeina Abdalla, Cofounder, meta[bolic] & Chief Engagement Officer, GluCare.Health

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