Dexcom

Connecting your Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) with Nightscout Pro allows you to remotely view, share, and analyse your glucose data. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up your Dexcom device to upload data to your Nightscout Pro site.

Supported Dexcom Devices

Nightscout Pro supports all current Dexcom CGM systems: – Dexcom G5 – Dexcom G6 – Dexcom ONE – Dexcom ONE+ – Dexcom G7 – Dexcom Stelo

Connection Methods

There are two primary ways to connect your Dexcom device to Nightscout Pro:

Dexcom Share (Bridge) Method

This method pulls data from Dexcom’s servers using the Dexcom Share feature and the Nightscout bridge plugin.

Compatibility: – Works with G5, G6, ONE+, and G7 (does NOT work with Dexcom ONE or Stelo) – Works with both Android and iOS Dexcom apps

Requirements: – Active Dexcom Share account – Dexcom mobile app installed and properly configured – Internet connection on your phone

Setup Steps:

1. Ensure Dexcom Share is enabled in your Dexcom app:
   • Open the Dexcom app
   • Navigate to Settings > Share
   • Toggle Share to ON
   • Add at least one follower (can be removed later)
2. Configure Nightscout Pro bridge settings:
   • Log in to your Nightscout Pro account
   • Click on Config Vars next to your Nightscout site
   • Ensure bridge is checked in your the PLUGINS section
   • Add the following information:
     • BRIDGE_USER_NAME: Your Dexcom Share account username
     • BRIDGE_PASSWORD: Your Dexcom Share account password
     • BRIDGE_SERVER: US or non-US (depending on your Dexcom account region)
   • Click “Update/Restart Nightscout” to save your changes
3. Verify the connection:
   • Wait 5-10 minutes for data to appear
   • Check your Nightscout Pro site to confirm glucose readings are being displayed
   • If no data is displayed, you can click “View Logs” in the Config Vars page to see some error information

Direct Upload Method (Using Third-Party Apps)

This method uses apps like xDrip+ (Android) or xDrip4iOS (iOS) to directly connect to your Dexcom transmitter and upload data to Nightscout Pro.

Compatibility: – Works with all Dexcom models (G5, G6, ONE, ONE+, G7, Stelo) – Android: xDrip+ – iOS: xDrip4iOS, Spike (for older G6 transmitters)

For Android Users (xDrip+):

1. Install xDrip+:
   • Download the latest version of xDrip+ from GitHub
   • Allow installation from unknown sources if prompted
2. Configure xDrip+ for your Dexcom:
   • Open xDrip+
   • Go to Settings > Hardware Data Source
   • Select your Dexcom model (G5/G6/ONE/G7)
   • Enter your transmitter ID when prompted
3. Connect xDrip+ to Nightscout Pro:
   • In xDrip+, go to Settings > Cloud Upload > Nightscout Sync
   • Enable “Nightscout Sync”
   • Enter your Nightscout URL in the format: https://[email protected]/api/v1/
   • Replace YOUR-API-SECRET with your actual API secret
   • Enable “Use mobile data” if you want uploads when not on WiFi
4. Verify the connection:
   • Wait for the next glucose reading
   • Check your Nightscout Pro site to confirm data is appearing
   • If no data appears, check the Event Log in xDrip+ and look for error mesages

For iOS Users (xDrip4iOS):

1. Install xDrip4iOS:
   • Follow the installation instructions from the xDrip4iOS website
   • This typically requires TestFlight or building the app yourself
2. Configure xDrip4iOS for your Dexcom:
   • Open xDrip4iOS
   • Go to Settings > CGM > Transmitter Type
   • Select your Dexcom model
   • Enter your transmitter ID
3. Connect xDrip4iOS to Nightscout Pro:
   • In xDrip4iOS, go to Settings > Services > Nightscout
   • Toggle “Nightscout” to ON
   • Enter your Nightscout URL: https://yoursite.region.nightscoutpro.com
   • Enter your API Secret
   • Enable “Upload Readings” and any other desired options
4. Verify the connection:
   • Wait for the next glucose reading
   • Check your Nightscout Pro site to confirm data is appearing

Troubleshooting Dexcom Connections

Bridge Method Issues

No data appearing in Nightscout: – Verify Dexcom Share is enabled and working in the Dexcom app – Check that your Dexcom account credentials are correct in Nightscout settings – Ensure your Dexcom app has internet connectivity – Confirm the correct server region is selected (US vs non-US)

Delayed data: – Some delay (5-10 minutes) is normal with the bridge method – Check your internet connection speed and stability

Direct Upload Method Issues

xDrip+/xDrip4iOS not connecting to Dexcom: – Verify your transmitter ID is entered correctly – Ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone – Try moving your phone closer to the transmitter – Restart the app and/or your phone

xDrip+/xDrip4iOS not uploading to Nightscout: – Check your Nightscout URL and API secret are entered correctly – Verify internet connectivity on your phone – Ensure battery optimization is disabled for the app

Best Practices

1. Choose one upload method: Using both bridge and direct upload simultaneously can cause duplicate data in Nightscout.
2. Battery considerations: Direct connection methods (xDrip+/xDrip4iOS) may use more phone battery than the bridge method.
3. Data reliability: Direct methods typically provide more consistent and immediate data than the bridge method.
4. Transmitter battery monitoring: xDrip+ and xDrip4iOS can display transmitter battery levels, which can be helpful for planning sensor changes.
5. Backup plan: Consider setting up both methods but only enabling one at a time, so you can switch if one method fails.

Additional Resources

• Official Dexcom Support
• xDrip+ Documentation
• xDrip4iOS Documentation