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2024-01-21

Welcome to News from Loop and Learn

Master Your DIY Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery System

Published on 21 January 2024.

In this edition:

Upcoming Zoom Sessions

Zoom Sessions use this link:

Topic Recorded? Time Date
Loop and Learn: Informal Discussion no 19:00 UTC 8 February
Loop and Learn: Informal Discussion no 19:00 UTC 14 March

The schedule for 2024 is the second Thursday of each month.

Time Zone Converter

Need help figuring out when an event happens in your time zone? Try the SavvyTime: UTC Converter.

Automatic Temp Basal vs Manual Temp Basal

A Temporary Basal (TB) is an automatic feature that the Loop uses in Closed Loop mode to regulate insulin delivery every 5 minutes. Loop uses user-input settings and entries to determine when to enact a TB and when to return to scheduled basal. If the user has selected Automatic Bolus Dosing Strategy, then TB are only used to reduce the amount of insulin delivered. The TB automatically issued by the Loop app all have a duration of 30 minutes. If no further commands are detected by the pump, at the end of 30 minutes, the pump returns to scheduled basal delivery.

A Manual Temporary Basal (MTB) is a user-selected setting that keeps insulin delivery steady at a user-defined rate for the user-defined duration (from 30 minutes up to 12 hours). In addition, the Loop app disables closed-loop operation, if enabled, and at after the MTB duration completes, it restores closed-loop configuration. If you use a Medtronic pump, you need to disable closed-loop, set MTB on your Medtronic pump and restore normal operation when done.

Resuming Scheduled Basal

Under normal operation: The Loop app always sets a 30-minute duration for TB. If the next prediction needs the same TB as the previous one, the TB is not modified to save the load on pump batteries. After 20 minutes, if the same TB is still required, then a new one is issued.

If connection with the phone is lost: The pump resumes scheduled basal between 10 and 30 minutes later, depending on when the last TB was initiated.

Searching for Information?

We all have occasional troubles finding information through searches, but we urge you to use this valuable tool before asking questions on your favorite social media site. You may find lots more information than you realized is available.

A major exception is when you are too flustered or hurried to search- there’s usually someone online ready to help. In that situation, ask and then search! And -of course- always be sure to seek help from emergency services first in an emergency!

Enhanced Customization for Profiles

Updated to add support for current Profile name in Nightscout and Loop Follow. Note - only the current profile is uploaded. Other profiles are stored only on the Looper's phone.

We’re excited to bring you the latest updates to the Profiles Customization for the Loop app. At the same time, the Loop Follow app (v2.1.4) supports displaying that profile name if you use the customization.

New features for the customization include:

  • Nightscout Display: Your current active profile is now visible in Nightscout!
  • Bug Fix for mmol/L Users: We’ve squashed a bug where the app could mistakenly detect a profile change and suggest an update!

New feature for the Loop Follow app (v2.1.4):

  • Loop Follow: The user can select Profile as a display option to see the active profile used by the Loop app. If the profile customization is not applied to the Loop app, this simply shows Default.

Get the Updates:

  • The enhanced Profile Save & Load customization for the Loop app is available for both main and dev branches. You must rebuild to get the update using either Browser Build or Mac Build.

  • Loop Follow: You need to build version 2.1.4 (released 18 January 2024) or newer to get the Profile display support.

We’re committed to continually improving your experience with Loop and Loop Follow. Your feedback is invaluable, so please share your experiences and suggestions with us.

Always use Automatic Time

If you turn off automatic time and manually change the time while using the Loop app, you might get into a situation where the app crashes repeatedly. You can turn off permissions for Loop in Apple Health and might be able to operate, but this limits long-term storage on your phone. Set Screen Time, with a PIN, which will disable your -or your child’s- ability to change the phone’s time. If the Loop app continues to crash because of a time change, even after you restore time to automatic, you will have to delete Loop off the phone completely, rebuild a fresh version, and repopulate all settings, overrides and options to resolve the issue.

Why would someone change the time on their phone?

One reason is to get more gaming time. So if you or your T1D child use the Loop phone for gaming, do yourself a favor and don’t change the time! Lock out the options with: iOS Settings, Screen Time, Lock Screen Time Settings and apply a PIN. This disables the ability for anything other than automatic time.

To check that your phone is on automatic time, go to iOS Settings, General, Date & Time.