City to offer discounted continuous glucose monitors and expert consultations for residents at risk of diabetes; participants can earn up to 35,000 points ($23) through tailored challenges

A screen from the Wrist Doctor 9988 mobile application. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]
A screen from the Wrist Doctor 9988 mobile application. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is expanding its healthcare platform Wrist Doctor 9988 to include blood sugar management support.

The city said it will launch a "real-time blood sugar management support project" to help residents stabilize their glucose levels and improve their lifestyle habits through discounted purchases of continuous glucose monitors, or CGMs, and access to expert consultations.

The initiative centers on prevention-focused health management using CGM technology. A CGM is a smart healthcare device that attaches a coin-sized wearable sensor to the skin and transmits real-time blood sugar readings to a smartphone — no finger-prick blood draws required. The devices have drawn growing attention not only for managing diabetes but also as tools for improving lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise.

Participants will begin by wearing the device and receiving expert consultations, then take part in health practice activities over two to three months. Those who wish may undergo a follow-up measurement to confirm changes in their health status. Completing the full program earns participants 10,000 special Wrist Doctor points.

Participants will also be enrolled in the existing metabolic syndrome challenge, through which they can earn 25,000 points by completing its missions. A separate "blood sugar challenge" set to launch in September will offer up to an additional 10,000 points, bringing the total potential benefit to 35,000 points ($23).

The blood sugar management support project will begin in September, open to residents identified as prediabetic through metabolic syndrome screening. Applicants can sign up through the Wrist Doctor 9988 app, pay via Seoul Pay and have the device delivered to them. CGM devices can also be purchased using Wrist Doctor points.

This year's rollout will be a pilot program targeting around 1,000 residents, with a total of 2,000 devices available — limited to two per person. The city plans to solicit and select CGM supply partners next month, with specific device prices and discount details to be confirmed after the selection process. The public participation schedule will be announced in August.

The selected vendor will be responsible for overall project operations, including stable device supply, delivery and after-sales service, as well as providing educational content for participants and supporting administrative functions.

Jo Yeong-chang, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Citizen Health Bureau, said prevention through lifestyle improvement before the onset of diabetes is far more important than treatment after the fact. "We will build an everyday prevention management system centered on Wrist Doctor 9988, linking CGM-based blood sugar management with improvements in diet and physical activity so that data drives healthy behavioral change," Jo said.

Wrist Doctor 9988 is a Seoul-style healthcare program that supports healthy activities through a dedicated app. Users can build habits such as walking and managing their diet to accumulate up to 100,000 points — redeemable like cash at hospitals, pharmacies and convenience stores at a rate of one point per won. The name reflects the city's wish for all Seoul residents to stay healthy and active until the age of 99.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon pledged during last year's election campaign to upgrade Wrist Doctor 9988 into an AI-powered super app for health management. The campaign pledge included plans to add features predicting the risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, as well as serious illnesses including lung cancer.


cook@heraldcorp.com