The Best Nightscout Set Up Instructions and Common Mistakes
What is Nightscout? Nightscout is your very own website for viewing data from a Dexcom, Libre, or Medtronic** CGM in any web browser. The CGM data flows from the Dexcom smartphone app, xDrip+ (Android), Spike (iOS), Contour Next Meter (Medronic) or Glimp (Libre scanner app) to “the cloud.” This allows you to do many awesome things like view your CGM on your smartwatch or ask your Alexa what your blood sugar is.
**Medtronic users, you will require additional hardware to set up Nightscout. Please see THIS LINK for more information about what is required and head over to the Nightscout for Medtronic group for assistance.
That said, setting up Nightscout is a little complicated. You need to create some accounts on online platforms and put the required information in VERY CAREFULLY. Do not attempt to set up Nightscout when you are tired or in a hurry! It is not hard and can be accomplished in under 30 minutes but a clear mind is required. Think of it like assembling IKEA furniture — you wouldn’t want to do that on 2 hours of sleep and 30 minutes before your big meeting either.
I am going to link what I think the best instructions are below, but first I am going to tell you what the two most common mistakes I see from people troubleshooting in the CGM in the Cloud group. Read these before you go look at the instructions!
MISTAKE #1: Incorrect Authentication Information (Ignore if you are not a Dexcom user.) Such a simple mistake! So easy to avoid. Go to https://www.dexcom.com/user and log in using your username and password to make sure it is correct before starting this process. Then WRITE IT DOWN!
MISTAKE #2: Incorrect Spacing or Variables Listed Under Enable in the Configuration Variables Setting up Nightscout requires you to input some information on a settings page. There is this one setting that trips up a lot of people — possibly because this setting varies depending on the app you are using to feed data to your site. Most people will want “careportal” so they can view reports (similar to Dexcom Clarity) and if you are using the Dexcom app, you also need “bridge.” These configuration variables are lowercase words separated by spaces.
The Best Written Instructions The best written instructions I have seen for setting up Nightscout are HERE. They are very clear with lots of screenshots. These instructions were written by the creator of the Spike app (alternative to Dexcom app for iOS). You can ignore the references to Spike if you are not using Spike.
If you are using the official Dexcom App, you must add the word “bridge” to the ENABLE line like shown in my screenshot above. You can keep all the other ENABLE variables (careportal, basal, iob, etc.) the same. You also need to put your Dexcom password where it says BRIDGE_PASSWORD and your Dexcom username where it says BRIDGE_USER_NAME. If you are using xDrip+ or Glimp, you can follow the instructions from Spike as written and just add your Nightscout URL within the xDrip+ or Glimp apps.
That said, the official instructions to set up Nightscout are HERE.
How to TROUBLESHOOT Your Nightscout Site Head over to the CGM in the Cloud Facebook group and put up a post. Make sure you include what app you are using (Dexcom, xDrip+, Spike) and what CGM you are using (Dexcom G4/G5/G6 or Libre + MaioMaio or Bluecon). Also include screenshots* of your configuration variables in Heroku.
(*To take a screenshot on Windows, hit the PrtSc key on your keyboard and paste into the post. On Mac, Shift-Command-4. On iPhone, hold the power and up volume button. Other platforms/devices - just Google how to take a screenshot.)
