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2024-07-31

Welcome to News from Loop and Learn

Master Your DIY Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery System

Published on 6 October 2024.

In this edition:

Upcoming Zoom Sessions

Loop and Learn: Informal Discussion (Open Mic) zoom meetings are scheduled on the second Thursday of each month.

Zoom Sessions use this link:

Topic Recorded? Time Date
Loop and Learn: Informal Discussion
Open Mic		 no 18:00 UTC 10 October 2024

Time Zone Converter

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

Version Updates

Version 3.4.3

The Loop app, version 3.4.3 is available.

This is a minor improvement with some fixes. It is important for both Browser Builders and Mac-Xcode Builders.

  • For Browser Builders who previously updated to version 3.4.1, your automatic update and build action on GitHub should run on Wed; you can then choose when to install version 3.4.3 from TestFlight onto your phone
  • For Mac-Xcode Builders, if you used Xcode 16 and don't see an expiration date in your app, please get a fresh download and build again

WARNING If you are running dev branch for any reason and are not a serious developer and tester: change to main immediately. Really big changes are expected to appear in the dev branch with no warning. All improvements previously in dev are in the new release, Loop 3.4.3.

CHANGE TO main NOW!

iOS Update

Though we are unaware of critical operational issues with iOS 18.0.1, a number of annoying problems have been reported. Our experts stand by their statement that it is best to wait when Apple provides a major release for iOS so you do not inadvertently become a beta tester.

  • The current suggestion is to wait for at least iOS 18.1, and we will update our recommendation again when that version is available.
  • If you are on iOS 17 / watchOS 10 - stay there:
    • Under General, Software Updates, you will be offered iOS 17.7 - that update is fine to accept
    • Do not accept an update to your watch at this time - stick with watchOS 10.x
  • If you are on iOS 18.0:
    • Please update to iOS 18.0.1 at your earliest convenience
      • You will find this version under software update; it is reported to improve several user interface issues
    • Similarly, if your watchOS is already at 11.0, please try 11.0.1 - we have heard it improves things

Check our Version Updates page (and the FB group) for updates.

This is not an issue, but users who rely on password interface to apps like Loop, LoopCaregiver and LoopFollow should know that the iOS Settings have been rearranged in iOS 18. Specifically, Passwords were moved to their own app rather than being included in Settings.

Issues reported by iOS 18.0 users:

  • LoopCaregiver - Xcode 16 - Watch widget issue
  • watchOS 11.0 - difficult to install Loop, Siri watch face is unavailable - Siri watch face enabled glucose updating promptly on the watch.
  • Loop - if built with a free developer account, NFC (Near Field Communication) is unavailable; NFC is required for EU Libre 2 users
  • The User Interface slows down and is especially bad immediately after a build

If you update and run into operational or other issues, there aren’t a lot of people with experience to help you fix them.

Tracking Settings Changes

A Looper asked for a way to keep track of settings changes.

Here are some ways that work well:

Option 1 - Use Nightscout

Install Nightscout for yourself and add it to Loop as a Service.

All of your treatments, including your therapy settings, are uploaded to your Nightscout URL.

One of the reports in Nightscout is to show Profiles over time.

One issue with Nightscout is that a profile is uploaded every time you run an override, so there may be a lot of profiles with the same Basal Rates, Carb Ratio and Insulin Sensitivity Factor.

Option 2 - Use a Customization

Install the "Profiles Save & Load" customization:

To keep a record of profiles locally (on your Loop phone):

  • After you modify a Therapy setting, tap on Profiles and select cancel - you do not want to update the named profile
  • Tap on the + sign to create a new named profile that has your current values
  • Tip: Begin "names" with a date to make it easy to sort and add a comment to help you understand the purpose of that override
    • One user, with only a single CR and ISF each day, uses values for "date daily-basal CR ISF"

Fixing an Extreme Override

We say it again and again... don’t use extreme overrides! If you do and are having issues because of doing so, here’s how to fix them. If you don’t know what an extreme override is, hopefully that’s because you have not used one... but please read up and stay on that course!

Quickest Way to get Help

If you’re building with browser and need help, the fastest way to get it is to include your GitHub URL when you request help- we see lots of other info, but that’s the ticket to getting quick help.

LnL Instagram

What’s that dino doing? Check out our Instagram and see! It’s a great way to get little “bites” of Loopy info, reminders and more.