Closed Loop Systems, also referred to as “Artificial Pancreas” or “Automated Insulin Dosing” (AID), are the newest form of technological support for people with type 1 diabetes, capable of automatically regulating blood glucose levels by delivering insulin based on tissue glucose measured by a CGM sensor.
There are commercial closed-loop systems offered by companies such as Tandem Diabetes Care, Medtronic, and Ypsomed, as well as DIY (Do-It-Yourself) systems based on open source technology that users can create themselves. Examples of DIY systems include AndroidAPS and LOOP for iOS.
Nightscout, on the other hand, is not a closed loop system, but a platform that allows monitoring blood glucose levels via the internet and dedicated apps. It is based on open source technology and links all diabetes relevant data such as CGM values, information from insulin pumps, nutritional values and other information such as notes. The information can then be accessed from anywhere via an interface (API). Therefore, Nightscout is a very good solution to use your own data in meala.
Closed loop systems, however, are no complete substitutes for daily blood glucose monitoring. Especially the carbohydrates still have to be estimated and entered into the AID systems by yourself. Errors still occur and blood glucose fluctuations will occur. However, the systems can be a valuable support for people with type 1 diabetes by helping them control their blood glucose levels and relieving them of manual calculations and most corrective injections. If you would like to learn more about closed loop systems, you should contact your doctor or diabetes educator.
