xDrip with Dexcom Share

Please note: this is NOT created by or supported by Dexcom

What is it?

If you have a Dexcom Share receiver and an android device, this will allow you to retrieve data from the receiver wirelessly (Through the magic of Bluetooth Low Energy)

Things to Note:

• This uses Dexcoms Algorithm not the xDrip custom algorithm.
• This DOES fetch raw data and calibrations and send them to NightScout
• If your android phone is running KitKat(4.3 or 4.4), you may have a hard time reconnecting after a disconnect, read the section below on kitkat vs lollipop

How to Set up the app:

• Install it!

  • If you get an error installing it that says it couldnt parse the package, your device does not support bluetooth low energy or is on too old of a version of android, try and update it!
  • If you get an error that you cant install from unknown sources, go into your phones settings -> security -> unknown sources and turn that on!

• Configure it!

  • Open the app and go to settings
  • Set Dexcom Data Collection Method to DexcomShare
  • Scroll down a bit more and then enter your 10 character Dexcom Receiver serial number (its on the back of the receiver and should start with 2 letters)
  • go back into the main screen of the app, then in the menu choose scan for bt
  • Tap scan on the top right hand corner
  • Select DEXCOMRX, That will bring you back to the main screen
  • You should see a message telling you to start your sensor, it means to start your sensor in this app
  • Go into the menu again and choose start sensor, then enter the approximate time and date the sensor started

Thats it, just wait a bit, if after about 5 minutes you dont have any data on your graph, follow the steps I described above for disconnecting in the KitKat vs Lollipop section!

Don't see any data yet?

• Follow the steps described above in order to have both devices forget each other!

Ready to start uploading to the cloud (NightScout)??

• Follow the steps for connecting xDrip to NightScout

KitKat vs Lollipop!

The bluetooth implementation on kitkat has many bugs. These bugs mean that sometimes if your device becomes disconnected from the Dexcom Receiver (this would happen if you go out of range from it or reboot the phone or turn bluetooth off or anything like that) it may be difficult for the two devices to connect back together on their own again, You will have to tell each device to forget each other by following the steps below. To check your android version, on your phone go into settings -> About Phone -> Android version (5.0 and above is lollipop, 4.3 - 4.4.4 are kitkat)

Reconnecting Devices if they are unable to pair properly

If running kitkat or on an initial setup you may have a hard time getting the devices to connect, follow these steps

• Open the xDrip menu and choose system status. In there choose forget device.
• Next, on the Dexcom, go into the menu -> Settings -> Share -> Forget Device, then choose to turn shares bluetooth back on.
• Now, in xDrip, choose scan for bt and select the Dexcom again. You should be back up and running in about a minute!!

If your device has the option to update to Lollipop, I highly recommend it!! Then you wont need to deal with the issue explained above. One thing to note about lollipop, since its so good at connecting and disconnecting, it actually disconnects between each reading, so if you are worried by seeing not connected on the system status page, dont worry, it should only try to connect about once every 5 minutes!