Open Source Artificial Pancreas Systems work with a variety of CGMs, but there are limitations, and then there are workarounds. For example, Freestyle Libre 2. The European version works directly with iAPS, while the US version does not work directly with iAPS.
Freestyle Libre 3 does NOT work directly with iAPS.
“Directly” means in practice – the sensor communicates with the APS app without need for an internet connection.
Workarounds: There are several workarounds that rely on having an internet connection. Nightscout, and Glucose Direct are two examples I am familiar with. These are open source tools.
So, if Buddy were to need another Omnipod while he is using the Freestyle Libre 3, I would use Glucose Direct to pull his blood sugar via the Libre Linkup follower function – over the internet – and use that glucose for looping. Nightscout would work similarly: FL3 -> LibreLinkUp -> Nightscout -> iAPS.
Internet can be wired, or over-the-air.
I have looped for over a year using the Nightscout route. There are of course limitations, notably: No internet, no BG to loop with, no looping. In that case, the pump would fall back to the programmed basal rate. Same, if one of the cloud services involved has an outage.
I spend time in areas without internet connection (e.g., Airplanes, Washington State’s remote mountains and forests, and sometimes, reinforced concrete buildings or buildings where wireless signals are jammed). To me, “offline looping” has always been very important. That’s why I generally use Dexcom G6 or European FreeStyle Libre 2 sensors.
For Buddy on the other hand, being outside of internet reception is mostly my choice – a trip to the no reception backcountry with him would be a choice. It has not happened yet that both wired and over the air internet have dropped at the same time at our house.
Bottom line – he can – if needed – loop using an FL3 or US FL2 sensor.
#wearenotwaiting for the win!!! Thank you to the amazing and generous people who are making this possible. ❤️
Links:
Nightscout: http://www.nightscout.info/http://www.nightscout.info/
Glucose Direct: https://github.com/creepymonster/GlucoseDirect
LibreLinkup: https://librelinkup.com. Abbott’s official “Follower” App, designed for caretakers, parents, partners, etc of individuals using a CGM.
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