What is OpenAPS?
- OpenAPS (which stands for “open source artificial pancreas system”) is an open and transparent effort to make safe and effective basic Artificial Pancreas System (APS) technology widely available to more quickly improve and save as many lives as possible and reduce the burden of Type 1 diabetes. The community has created a safety-focused reference design and a reference implementation of an overnight closed loop APS system that uses CGM sensors’ estimate of blood glucose (BG) to automatically adjust basal insulin levels, in order to keep BG levels inside a safe range overnight and between meals.
How does OpenAPS work?
- OpenAPS is a simplified Artificial Pancreas System (APS) designed to automatically adjust an insulin pump’s basal insulin delivery to keep blood glucose (BG) in a safe range overnight and between meals. It does this by communicating with an insulin pump to obtain details of all recent insulin dosing (basal and boluses), by communicating with a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) to obtain current and recent BG estimates, and by issuing commands to the insulin pump to adjust temporary basal rates as needed. It follows the same basic diabetes math that a person would do to calculate a needed adjustment to their BG – but it’s automated and precise in its measurements. For more details, read the OpenAPS reference design.
Where can I go for help when building my own DIY closed loop implementation?
- You’ll have to build your implementation yourself (no one can/will do it for you!), but there is documentation and advice from a community of people who have already closed the loop. Make sure to first read the reference design to understand how the system is designed to work, and review the documentation. There are users in the community around the world, so there is usually someone online in one of the channels who can help answer questions and point you to resources. And much of what you’ll need is available in the documentation.
Does using an OpenAPS implementation mean I won’t need to bolus for meals or ever push any buttons?
- No. OpenAPS, when first built, is what a lot of people call a “hybrid closed loop”. Because the current insulin we have available to us takes so long to reach peak activity, it’s better to do (most of) the manual meal bolus as you would otherwise do. There are features in the OpenAPS algorithm to help if BGs rise faster or drop faster than expected during or after a meal, but they don’t replace a regular meal bolus. Overall, it’s important to understand that OpenAPS is not a “set and forget” type of system. You’ll still be actively managing your diabetes and doing basic self-care as you were before – this includes everything from meal boluses, checking BG and calibrating the CGM, changing out pump sites, etc. Over time, however, you may be able to enable more advanced features (especially if you have access to slightly more rapid types of insulin) that may enable you to choose to do “no bolus” or “no meal announcement”. However, at the beginning of your usage, the system will be a hybrid closed loop.
Is OpenAPS safe?
- It’s designed for safety, by people with diabetes. It is designed to monitor and respond to changes in BG levels, ultimately lessening the numbers of high and low BGs a person with diabetes may deal with. There will still be some highs or lows, but most users self-report less of both highs and lows, plus more time in range, AND hbA1c reductions – not to mention the quality of life improvements associated with having a system that can auto-adjust basal rates overnight while they sleep. But the ultimate answer to “is it safe” will be something each individual decides for themselves. Check out the Outcomes page for details on some of the research being done, including results published in the New England Journal of Medicine of a randomized control trial (RCT) which found safety and efficacy for children and adults using the OpenAPS algorithm.
Are there any kids using OpenAPS?
- Yes, hundreds. Approximately one third of the OpenAPS loopers are kids who have parents who have chosen to build closed loops for their families.
How many people are using OpenAPS?
- Check out the outcomes page to see the general count of number of people worldwide we estimate may be using DIY closed loop systems.
Is it a PID controller? Is it an MPC? Does it use fuzzy logic or “ML” (machine learning)?
Can I buy an OpenAPS?
Where/how do I get an OpenAPS?
- OpenAPS is not an FDA-approved system or device. It’s not manufactured or sold anywhere in the world. It’s an open-source designed system that you can choose to build yourself.
What do I need to build an OpenAPS implementation?
- For the most up to date hardware list, check out the hardware page in the OpenAPS documentation. In general, you need a compatible insulin pump; a continuous glucose monitor; and a computer with a radio to communicate bi-directionally with the pump. This is specific to an OpenAPS implementation. OpenAPS does not require a phone.You may also want to check out the AndroidAPS documentation for an Android phone-based implementation of the OpenAPS algorithm, and interoperability with additional insulin pumps. And although it doesn’t use the same algorithm, safety design, or feature set as OpenAPS and AndroidAPS, you can also check out the Loop documentation for another open source system option that requires an iOS device.
Where is the code for OpenAPS? Where is the documentation for OpenAPS?
Do I have to know programming or be technical to build an OpenAPS?
- No, but you DO have to be willing to learn a few new-to-you things. There are resources to help you figure it out, including step-by-step comprehensive documentation. The DIY part of OpenAPS is important, because there’s no customer service if it breaks or stops working – you’ll have to fix it yourself. So the building process is valuable because you’ll be well-equipped to figure out what might have stopped working (and why!) once you have a working closed loop implementation.
Will my pump work with OpenAPS?
- Right now, the only pumps that work with the OpenAPS safety-focused reference design are older versions of Medtronic pumps. Find more details about which versions of the pumps are compatible in the hardware section of the OpenAPS documentation.You may also want to review the AndroidAPS or Loop (which doesn’t use the OpenAPS algorithm, feature set, or safety design) documentation for information on what pumps those systems currently have interoperability with.
Will my CGM work with OpenAPS?
- Most CGMs work with OpenAPS, including: Dexcom G4 (including with Share); Dexcom G5; Dexcom G6, Medtronic CGMs, and other commercially available CGMs.
Could OpenAPS damage my pump or shorten its lifespan?
- We currently have years of cumulative OpenAPS pump operations and our collective experience indicates that using a DIY closed loop will not damage your insulin pump. We do not have any reports of pumps becoming disabled, locking up, or being “bricked” by frequent radio communications. However, all users report an increase in battery usage, so you’ll change the AAA battery more often. We have several members in the community who have been using the same pump with their DIY closed loops for 3-4 years without issue.
Could someone hack my insulin pump or control my insulin delivery?
- This may be true even if you don’t use a DIY closed loop. We believe that every potential OpenAPS user needs to weigh the risks associated with using OpenAPS versus the risks of not using the system. Any time a device uses radio communications, there is some risk that the device could be exploited – and this is true from standard, non-looping pump operation as well. Currently, we are not aware of anyone attempting to harm individuals by hacking their diabetes related medical equipment. However, there are multiple ways OpenAPS users can mitigate such risks, even if they are unlikely. First, in the pump settings, limit both the max bolus allowed and max temporary basal settings to amounts that you believe are safest. These are hard limits that we do not believe any malicious hacker could circumvent. Second, leave your CGM alarms enabled for both highs and lows. Third, monitor your insulin delivery online. Nightscout users can set additional alarms to alert for a wide variety of conditions, including conditions that are much more likely to occur than a malicious attack. In addition to highs and lows, Nightscout can display many different data points useful for verifying that the pump is operating as desired, including your current IOB, pump temporary basal history, pump boluses history. It can also be configured to proactively alert users to undesirable conditions, such as predicted highs and lows, low insulin reservoir, and low pump battery. In the event a malicious attack was made on your insulin pump, the above strategies would significantly mitigate the risk posed by such an attack. It is also worth noting that the OpenAPS community is continuously working to improve the safety and security of their systems.
Does it work with an iPhone or Android based phone?
- Make sure to read the above questions (or the documentation) about what equipment you need for a standard #OpenAPS implementation. You can *view* your data on any phone (iPhone or Android) or computing device. Most OpenAPS implementations require additional hardware like an Intel Edison in order to run the closed loop system, since it is not a phone-based system. OpenAPS does not require a phone, and you can use OpenAPS regardless of whether you have an iPhone or Android phone.
How much does OpenAPS cost to build?
- It depends on how much equipment you already have. The hardware components usually cost around $150 (USD). Some people are able to buy second-hand rigs or parts, or find them being given away for free within the community. But many people also need to find a compatible pump, which ranges from free (ask a friend or around your local community) to several hundreds of dollars. Also be warned: most people end up building a second “rig” (hardware setup) or more so they can have a “mobile” rig and an “at home” rig, etc.
Why would someone build an OpenAPS?
- Individuals who build OpenAPS setups have decided that #WeAreNotWaiting to be able to automatically adjust basal rates to safely keep BGs in range and reduce the burden of living with Type 1 diabetes. For context, the first DIY closed loop that was the inspiration for OpenAPS was completed in December 2014 – back when the forecast for commercial closed loop systems was still 3-4 years away.
What does the FDA think about OpenAPS?
- You can Google it, or ask them yourselves! Our take on what they’ve told us directly as well as what they’ve said publicly: their responsibility is to regulate products on the commercial market and help safeguard the public. OpenAPS is NOT a commercial product and is not sold or distributed in anyway. Individuals who build an OpenAPS are essentially doing an (n=1) experiment, which they have a right to do to/by themselves. That is not a regulated activity by the FDA.
What do you think of (Bigfoot, Beta Bionics/iLet/Bionic Pancreas, Medtronic, TypeZero, Tandem, Cellnovo, Animas, Insulet, Diabeloop, Roche, Cambridge)’s efforts to close the loop and create an artificial pancreas?
- We support all of the companies working to commercialize a closed loop system. We just wish they would each get their solution(s) to market more quickly! This is part of what we’re working to do as a community. We are working to demonstrate the need of the community to have closed loop systems; demonstrate the safety of basic closed loop systems and efficacy compared to “standard of care” without closed loops; and help break down communication barriers between the FDA, these companies, and the community that needs the devices widely available as quickly as possible. And in the meantime, many of us are not waiting (#WeAreNotWaiting) by building and running our own DIY, OpenAPS implementations.
Who is behind OpenAPS?
- There is an amazing community of people behind OpenAPS! Dana Lewis and Scott Leibrand built the first DIY closed loop system (called #DIYPS) that was the inspiration for the open source version of a closed loop system now known as OpenAPS. They spend a lot of time supporting the community in various ways, including continuing development on many of their algorithms that are now used by the community. One of the other founders behind the OpenAPS movement is Ben West, who identified the way to communicate with Medtronic pumps (in addition to other open source work he does with diabetes devices). Dana and Scott worked with Ben as he built the openaps toolkit, which became the building blocks of the first OpenAPS implementation. Many other people have also contributed to the community in various ways: from writing documentation, building unit tests, testing new features and algorithms, incorporating OpenAPS data with visualization tools like Nightscout and making the data easily viewable on Pebble watches, building new software to communicate with pumps, etc. You’ll find a lot of people from the community sharing their experiences using their OpenAPS implementations and documenting new tools in progress via the #OpenAPS hashtag on Twitter.
Where is OpenAPS located?
- OpenAPS is not an organization, and thus does not have a traditional location. OpenAPS is an open source project. However, when publishing, the affiliation of OpenAPS can be used with the location of Seattle, WA, US, which is where the open source project began.
I’m interested in learning more, but I’m not quite ready to close the loop for myself. What else can I read?
For a bigger picture look at automated insulin delivery technology, you can read ArtificialPancreasBook.com – this has information about closed loop technology for every day usage, tips for helping to determine whether this type of technology (either DIY or commercial) is right for you, information for healthcare providers, a summary of the latest APS research, and more.
I have more questions. Who can I talk to?
- Hmm. You really have a question we haven’t answered above? Ok. Here’s where to go: