Nightscout and DIY Closed Loop
Why Use Nightscout?
Under construction – for now see:
How to Use Nightscout?
Under construction – for now see:
- Loopdocs – Nightscout
- Kenny Fox Video: Loop Basal and ISF Settings
- Nightscout section begins around 9 minutes
- The entire video is about one hour and 20 minutes long
There are some configuation variables that are required for Loop and others that are your preference.
These are documented on these pages:
How to Get Nightscout?
Traditionally, Loopers are told to build a “free” DIY Nightscout as part of Loopdocs. You can also pay for extra storage so you can maintain your own DIY Nightscout data repository for more than a few months.
There is now a managed Nightscout service, T1pal, where you can pay someone to create your site, maintain it and manage your database. If you can afford to use the managed service, it is recommended you do so. It will save a lot of time.
Advanced Users
If you plan to use IFTTT (if this then that) with Nightscout, that is not supported in T1pal. They are attempting to get their service approved by the FDA and do not think that capability would be approved. You will need to use the DIY method for IFTTT.
DIY Nightscout
This link takes you to the Nightscout Documentation for building your own site.
Managed Nightscout
T1pal is a vendor that provides a managed Nightscout site. It is run by one of the original creators of Nightscout.
- Read about the service on the Getting Started page
- Sign up for the service at the main T1pal website
- Once you’ve signed up, log in to the T1pal website to modify configuration or get links and your API secret
This screen is the initial screen you’ll see when you log in. You almost always will want to select Nightscout Configuration next. You can click on Visit my Nightscout, but at least on a mobile device, it is better to set up an app to display the site.
The Welcome Page is the default screen once you select Nightscout Configuration
- Ensure that “Visualize therapy: yes” is enabled
- If you use Loop or FreeAPS, ensure that the loop option is selected and enabled
- If you use OpenAPS, AndroidAPS or FreeAPS X, ensure that the openAPS/AndroidAPS option is selected and enabled
- Use the Nightscout Configuration -> Uploader page to copy the Uploader URL and API Secret into Loop’s inputs for Site URL and API Secret. It is easiest to do on the mobile device itself.
- There is a QR code image that is clipped from the bottom of this graphic which can be used for some applications – others require you to copy and paste the API Secret and URL separately
- The graphic below shows the Copy buttons for API Secret and URL with the actual values blanked out
- Here’s a quick video showing copying URL and API Secret into Loop: Uploader Video
- T1pal recommends enabling Upload readings to allow Loop to upload glucose readings to Nightscout: Upload Readings
- Use the Nightscout Configuration -> Control Panel page to enter the values that the DIY documentation talks about adding in the Heroku ConfigVar panel.
- See How to Use Nightscout?
- Only some of the control panel screen is shown in this graphic
- Scroll down on your website or phone to see the rest of the items
- If you’re on a mobile device, be sure to use landscape mode
- Note – you can view the API secret here, but it’s a lot easier to copy it from the Uploaders page.
- Use the Nightscout Configuration -> Social page to configure links that you can share or use on websites. The upload-0 is the one you’ll use for devices that need to talk to Nightscout. The others can be created and deleted under your control. The alpha-numeric key for the links is blanked out of this graphic.