Healthcare Professionals looking for more information about DIY looping options can find out more by using the resources listed here.
For more detail, here is an overview of what looping is and what the systems are: https://www.diabettech.com/looping-a-guide/what-is-it/
Algorithms
Following that, if you want to learn a bit more about how the algorithms works, there are the following sources:
- A deeper dive into how the oref algorithms used in #OpenAPS and #AndroidAPS work, how it gathers data, how it knows what to do and some examples of decisions around dosing, plus a section on Settings Optimisation: https://openaps.readthedocs.io/en/latest/docs/Resources/clinician-guide-to-OpenAPS.html
- A look at the algorithm behind Loop, which is similar. There are further details of the basal adjustments and how it uses the bolus calculator at: https://loopkit.github.io/loopdocs/operation/algorithm/temp_basal/ and https://loopkit.github.io/loopdocs/operation/algorithm/bolus/
Safety
The reference design documents on the OpenAPS.org website provide details of how OpenAPS is designed for safety. Loop and AndroidAPS use this at the heart of the their designs as well.
Differences between the systems
If you want to better understand the differences between Loop, OpenAPS and AndroidAPS in terms of how they work and how people live with them, the following are n=1 views of Loop and OpenAPS:
- A subjective view from an adult usage perspective comparing use of the systems, with a deeper dive into the differences between the oref series of algorithms and the Loop algorithm: https://www.diabettech.com/looping-a-guide/comparing-the-loop-and-openaps-algorithms/
- A subjective view from a parent and child perspective comparing between the usability of Loop and OpenAPS: http://seemycgm.com/2017/09/02/loop-vs-openaps-update/
- A subjective view comparing AnrdoidAPS and OpenAPS. https://www.diabettech.com/looping-a-guide/openaps-and-androidaps-a-real-world-comparison/
- How DIY Systems compare to the 670G: https://www.diabettech.com/artificial-pancreas/medtronics-670g-and-openapsloop-what-can-we-glean-from-the-user-user-manual/
Press and Background
There are also a couple of press articles that provide a good overview of the background to these systems:
- Dana Lewis speaks to the UK’s Guardian newspaper: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jul/20/diabetes-experience-i-built-my-own-pancreas
- Bloomberg in-depth article: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-08-08/the-250-biohack-that-s-revolutionizing-life-with-diabetes
- CNBC Video article on DIY systems: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/02/hacking-diabetes-with-this-diy-artificial-pancreas–review.html
Tuning
A key aspect of living with a DIY loop is understanding what you need to do to tune the settings. Katie DiSimone has pulled together the various pieces of advice that have regularly been provided on Facebook into this single page:
Getting going with a DIY system
Finally, if you want to learn where to go to set up the systems, there’s a guide to all three available at:
Queries
If you have any questions relating to any of the content on this page, or the systems involved, please feel free to use the contact form below to contact us directly.