Connect to a CGM as a Master Device

In this page, we will go through the method of connecting a CGM system to xDrip4iOS so that this receives real-time CGM data from your sensor.

Firstly, make sure you have correctly set xDrip4iOS as a Master device and you have chosen the units that your BG should be displayed in.

Do not try and connect to your CGM transmitter from the Bluetooth menu on your iPhone. You must only connect from within the xDrip4iOS app.

Before continuing, please check the compatibility tables to make sure that your CGM system is compatible.


Libre

Libre 2 Direct Connection

Compatibility

This is only valid for the European Libre 2 sensor (aka Libre2 EU). More information here.

Firstly make sure that your Libre 2 sensor is started and working. If you scan the sensor with the LibreLink app, can you see the values/graph?

If not, start the sensor from the LibreLink app or put a new sensor on and start it. Then go back to the previous step until it works.

If yes, then let's continue.

Disable LibreLink Bluetooth Permission

To avoid problems with the LibreLink app "stealing" the Bluetooth connection from xDrip4iOS, we need to ensure that the LibreLink app has it's Bluetooth permissions disabled.

Go to your iPhone Settings and scroll down to LibreLink. Select the app and in the options, disable Bluetooth.

Connect to the Libre 2

Go to the Bluetooth tab and choose CGM as your Device Type, press OK.

If you already have a Libre 2 connected, add a second Libre 2 CGM device and continue reading. Once connected to the new one, you can delete the previous Libre 2 CGM.

If you already have a previous CGM added (and it is not a Libre 2), you will get a warning that says that you can only have one CGM device added at a time. Please delete the previous device and try again (only if it is not a Libre 2).

In the Transmitter Types, select Libre 2 and click OK.

You will get a message to Scan your sensor with the NFC antenna of your iPhone. You should scan the sensor as you would to start/read the sensor using the Libre app.

If you get an error message, please repeat adding the Libre 2 and scan again.

Once your sensor has been scanned successfully, you will see a message asking you to keep xDrip4iOS open whilst the Bluetooth connection is made. Just leave your iPhone on the table and have a coffee. DO NOT play Roblox, watch Netflix or listen to Spotify. Put the phone down without touching it and keep it close to you.

When xDrip4iOS finds your sensor, you will get a message saying the the sensor has been connected correctly. Click OK.

You can now choose if you want to use the Transmitter algorithm (no calibration required) or deselect this option to use the xDrip algorithm with manual calibrations (recommended).

Wait for up to 10-15 minutes for xDrip4iOS to receive the first two readings from your sensor.

  • If you are using the Transmitter algorithm, you will then automatically start getting values.

  • If you are using the xDrip algorithm, xDrip4iOS will ask you for an initial calibration. Make sure you use a good blood glucose meter and follow the calibration rules where possible.

If you just changed sensor and you have data from the new one, you can now delete the old Libre 2 sensor from the CGM list.


Libre 1/2 with a Transmitter

Compatibility

This method is only valid for the Libre 1 or European Libre 2 sensors with a compatible transmitter such as MiaoMiao, Bubble, Droplet...

Disable other apps connected to the transmitter Bluetooth Permission

To avoid problems with other apps (Tomato, Diabox, zDrip, ...) "stealing" the Bluetooth connection from xDrip4iOS, we need to ensure that they have their Bluetooth permissions disabled.

Go to your iPhone Settings and scroll down the app. Select it and in the options, disable Bluetooth.

Firstly make sure that your Libre sensor is started and working. If you scan the sensor with the LibreLink app, can you see the values/graph?

If not, start the sensor from the LibreLink app or put a new sensor on and start it. Then go back to the previous step until it works.

If yes, then let's continue.

Add your Transmitter

To to the Bluetooth tab and click the + button to add a new Device Type.

Select CGM and then chose your transmitter type from the list.

You will get a message asking you to keep xDrip4iOS open whilst the bluetooth connection is made with your transmitter. Just leave your iPhone on the table and have a coffee. DO NOT play Roblox, watch Netflix or listen to Spotify. Put the phone down without touching it and keep it close to you. Do it now.

When xDrip4iOS finds your transmitter, you will get a message saying that it has been connected correctly. Click OK.

You can now choose if you want to use the Transmitter algorithm (no calibration required) or deselect this option to use the xDrip algorithm with manual calibrations (recommended).

Wait for up to 10-15 minutes for xDrip4iOS to receive the first two readings from your sensor.

  • If you are using the Transmitter algorithm, you will then automatically start getting values.

  • If you are using the xDrip algorithm, xDrip4iOS will ask you for an initial calibration. Make sure you use a good blood glucose meter and follow the calibration rules where possible.


Dexcom

Compatibility

This method is valid for all Dexcom G4/G5 and G6/ONE systems. See here for more information.

Dexcom G4

To connect to a Dexcom G4 transmitter, a xDrip Wireless Bridge (Wixel) is needed. More information is available here

Disable the Dexcom app connected to the transmitter Bluetooth Permission

To avoid problems the Dexcom G5/G6/ONE master app "stealing" the Bluetooth connection from xDrip4iOS, we need to ensure that it has its Bluetooth permissions disabled.

Go to your iPhone Settings and scroll down the app. Select the Dexcom app and in the options, disable Bluetooth. You will be able to enable it back later on if you wish.

To to the Bluetooth tab and click the + button to add a new Device Type.

Select CGM and then chose your Dexcom system (G4/G5/G6) from the list.

You will be prompted to input your Transmitter ID (for example: 80H9W4).

Once you have entered your Transmitter ID, you will see a message asking you to keep xDrip4iOS open whilst the transmitter is found and a Bluetooth connection is made. Just leave your iPhone on the table and have a coffee. DO NOT play Roblox, watch Netflix or listen to Spotify. Put the phone down without touching it and stay close to it.

When xDrip4iOS finds your transmitter, you will get a message saying that it has been connected correctly. Click OK.

Once connected, you will always see its status as Scanning since it only communicates for a short period of time every 5 minutes.

If you're using a Dexcom 6 or ONE sensor, you will be prompted to enter the calibration code reported on the sensor box once warm-up is complete.

"Follow Dexcom-app" option

Once the transmitter is paired, you can enable Follow Dexcom-app and re-enable Bluetooth in the Dexcom app on your phone. Both xDrip4iOS and the Dexcom app will be connected to the sensor. This allows you to use the best of both worlds (Clarity uploads and xDrip4iOS unique features).

In this case, xDrip4iOS will simply spy on the communications between the transmitter and the Dexcom app. Whilst it is therefore technically the Dexcom app that is controlling the communications with the transmitter, with "Follow Dexcom-app" mode enabled, xDrip4iOS can still send commands to start/end the sensor session and also send calibrations.

Please note: If you do not have the original Dexcom app installed on your iPhone and connected to your transmitter, do not enable this option or you will not get any readings.

Dexcom Share Upload

This feature is not available with Dexcom ONE.

You can configure xDrip4iOS to upload your G5/G6 sensor data to your Dexcom Share account.

Dexcom Share

You must have an invitation sent (even to yourself) by the Dexcom app to enable sharing. You can then use xDrip4iOS to share your data with any follower app (official and third party).

In the Settings Menu, enable Upload to Dexcom Share, enter you account/user name and password.

If you are inside the US, then also select the Use Dexcom US Servers option. If you are anywhere else (Canada, Europe etc, do not select this option)

Finally, enter a Dexcom receiver serial number. This is required for this method of uploading CGM data to Dexcom Share servers. The receiver does not need to be in use or paired with any transmitter.

This will not upload your data inside Clarity, as only the Dexcom app can do this. It will just upload your data to Dexcom Share so that people using the Follow app can follow you. We would still recommend using Nightscout (see below) instead of Dexcom Share as it has many more benefits.



Nightscout Upload

Nightscout (also known as "CGM In The Cloud") is an open-source, cloud-based platform for storing, sharing and analysing CGM and treament data.

Nightscout Logo

Nightscout is one of the key pillars at the heart of the #wearenotwaiting community.

We fully recommend all users to take advantage of this platform as it will open up many possibilities (sharing CGM data/alarms with family members, sharing CGM values to other devices, watches, tablets).

Nightscout Logo

Please see the main Nightscout documentation site for further information and set-up instructions.

Further help and support can be found in the CGM In The Cloud Facebook group here

In order to connect xDrip4iOS to Nightscout and upload your CGM data, in the Settings Menu, select Enable Nightscout.

You should enter your Nightscout URL as per the service you are using.

Examples (change mynightscout and 12345 as necessary)

  • Heroku/Mongo: https://mynightscout.herokuapp.com
  • ns.10be.de (1): https://mynightscout.10be.de Port: 12345 (Note: you'll find your URL, port and API secret in the Server page)
  • T1Pal: https://mynightscout.t1pal.com (Note: you'll find your Uploader Url and Api Secret in the Uploaders page)

(1) If your URL needs a port number to access the service (such as the default mode of ns.10be.de), then enter this number in Port.

Finally, enter your API_SECRET which should be a 12 character "password" that you configured when setting up your Nightscout installation. Without this, xDrip4iOS will not be able to write data to Nightscout.

If you want to check that your Nightscout credentials are correct, you can press the "Test Connection" button and you will get a message with the result of the test.