At Integrated Diabetes Services (IDS), nearly all of our clinicians are using an open source (DIY) system for their own diabetes management.
When I joined IDS as an intern in 2019, I was introduced to this approach for the first time. Gary, one of our team members, handed me his phone and told me to dose his insulin for lunch—directly from his phone! I was amazed at the possibilities.
Before long, I became part of the DIY community myself. While many of my colleagues joked that my quick adoption was due to my age, I found the system builds intuitive and easy to manage. I quickly became the go-to person for troubleshooting build errors and answering questions. Many individuals needed guidance throughout the process, as the idea of building and managing their own app intimidated them. Although they recognized that DIY systems might better suit their needs, the perceived complexity of setup and maintenance was often a barrier.
However, what stood out to me the most was the remarkable DIY community.
Volunteers dedicate countless hours to helping others with everything from troubleshooting builds to offer
ing a wealth of resources. I’ve found this network to be a far more efficient and responsive form of support than traditional customer service offered by commercial systems. At IDS, we always encourage people to embrace the DIY approach and not hesitate to seek guidance from the community, which is genuinely eager to help.
In light of this, IDS offers a dedicated support package for individuals looking to transition to a DIY system.
Whether you’re seeking advice on the best DIY option, need hands-on assistance, or are looking to optimize your system’s settings, we’re here to help you succeed.
What’s Included:
- 10 scheduled follow-up visits, each 30 minutes in length, spaced one week apart.
- 1 DIY Loop or Open Source System Build Assist Coaching Visit, 2 hours in length.
- 1 Rebuild Assistance Coaching Visit, 30 minutes in length.
- Comprehensive training and coaching support for building, setup, and system optimization.
- Ongoing data analysis is recommended every 1–2 weeks, with additional analysis as needed.
- Regular submission of questions and data for review and adjustment between consultations (responses typically within 24 hours).
- Access to emergency supplies as needed and when available.
If this sounds like the support you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to us at 610-642-6055. We look forward to helping you navigate your DIY diabetes management journey.
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