Reports are coming out of Apple stating the company is closer to a prick-free blood glucose monitoring system for the Apple Watch.

Apple is saying the blood-monitoring device is at proof-of-concept stage and can be brought to market once it’s smaller. The system uses lasers to gauge glucose concentration under the skin. For anyone who has an Apple Watch, a similar system is currently used to measure heart rate on the devices.

The technology once started out as a table-top sized device and has shrunken down to iPhone sized. This is fantastic news as a proliferation of iPhone-connected diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health monitoring devices has hit the market. Those devices typically use an implant of some form under the skin and exposes electronics that can be read by a mobile device above the skin. Abbott Laboratories’, FreeStyle Libre is one of the devices in this class.

Apple’s project has been going on for the last 12 years after the company acquired the diabetes monitoring startup, RareLight, during the Steve Jobs era. After keeping the technology shrouded in a secretive health startup, Apple’s top leadership have brought this technology into their Experimental Design Group.

An Apple Watch enabled product is still years away as it’s very hard to get health monitoring devices past regulatory approval. Once the product is miniaturized it’ll need to go through several trials and finally get FDA approval.

Many of us have family members whom we’ve lost due to diabetes. Any developments in helping people monitor and maintain their blood glucose levels is a win.