My daughter, Evelyn, and my wife, Mary are organizing an event mainly for kids with Type 1 diabetes. I will have SugarDrive units there for show and tell. I’m really interested in what everyone thinks of the features and user interface. The event is called ‘Jurassic Journey: Taming T1D‘ and is on Saturday, September 6 at the LaCrescent Event Center. Follow the Facebook page link to learn more.

The iOS app is progressing. The app will send the blood sugar and trend information to the display if Dexcom Follow is configured or send just the blood sugar value from Apple Health without the Dexcom information. My next step in the app development is to make the updates go to SugarDrive even if the iPhone is asleep.

I’m happy to share that the WiFi version of SugarDrive is now in a stable state and ready for people to test. If you’ve been following along and waiting for a more polished build, this is a great time to get involved.

This version lets you connect SugarDrive to a WiFi network and retrieve blood glucose data remotely. It includes all the recent improvements like configuration mode and in-field software updates—making setup and future updates much easier.

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New Development: BLE Communication via iOS App

Over the past week, I’ve also been exploring a new communication path: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) using an iOS app.

Here’s where things stand so far:

• The SugarDrive display advertises over BLE, acting as a peripheral
• An iOS app (currently in early development) can connect to the display
• The app is able to transmit the BG value to the display over BLE
• ✅ I’ve already demonstrated basic functionality

This BLE path would allow people to send CGM data to SugarDrive without requiring a WiFi connection—offering another layer of flexibility depending on your setup or preferences.

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What’s Next

• Continue refining the BLE communication—improving reliability and responsiveness
• Expand the app to handle live CGM data and make it easy to pair with the display
• Begin limited testing of the iOS app alongside the existing WiFi-based system

If you’re interested in testing either the WiFi version or the upcoming BLE version, I’d love to hear from you. Your feedback helps shape the direction of SugarDrive.

Thanks for following along!

We’re excited to announce a new feature that makes SugarDrive even easier to use and keep up to date: in-field software updates.

Until now, updating the SugarDrive software meant connecting the device to a computer and flashing it manually. That process worked—but it wasn’t something most people wanted to deal with unless they had to.

With this new feature, updating is simple and can be done right from your car.

How It Works

When you enter Configuration Mode, you’ll now see an option to Check for Updates. If a new version is available, SugarDrive will show you the version details and give you the option to install the update.

There’s no need to connect anything or take the device out of your vehicle. Just follow the prompts, and the update will take care of itself.

Why It Matters

Adding in-field update support means:

• You get bug fixes and performance improvements more quickly.
• We can roll out new features without requiring any technical steps from you.
• It’s easier for us to respond to user feedback and deliver improvements over time.

This is just one more way we’re working to make SugarDrive the simplest, most user-friendly way to view your blood sugar in the car.

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📘 Updated Setup Instructions Available

We’ve updated our setup instructions to reflect the latest features, including how to enter Configuration Mode and prepare your SugarDrive for daily use.
👉 View the setup guide

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📄 Update Instructions Coming Soon

We’re currently working on a short guide that walks you through the in-field update process step by step—what to expect, how to trigger it, and how to confirm it was successful. We’ll post that soon and add it to the setup page above when it’s ready.

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Thanks for being part of the SugarDrive journey. If you have feedback or feature requests, we’d love to hear them!

Thanks to some helpful formatting feedback, the SugarDrive setup instructions are now available as a webpage—making them easier to read, navigate, and reference during installation. This should be a big improvement over the previous PDF format.

While putting the instructions together, I also came across an opportunity to simplify how Dexcom credentials are entered during setup. I’ve gone ahead and updated the software to reflect this improvement. It should make the process more straightforward.

The current instructions are still mostly accurate, but may make a small update soon to match the change in Dexcom credential input method. In the meantime, the online version is live and ready for feedback.

If you’ve got a few minutes to read through the setup guide or you’re in the middle of getting SugarDrive running, I’d really appreciate your input. Even small suggestions help make the experience smoother for the next user.

👉 https://glucodash.com/sugardrive-wifi-setup-instructions/

Thanks as always for your support and feedback!

—John

As part of the ongoing improvements to SugarDrive, I’ve been working on updating the setup instructions to better reflect recent feature additions and user experience feedback. These instructions walk new users through getting SugarDrive up and running—connecting to WiFi, configuring it for use, and troubleshooting common setup issues.

A draft version of the updated setup guide is now available, and I’d appreciate help reviewing it.

If you’ve gone through the setup process before, or if you’re comfortable providing feedback on instructions, I’d love your input. Clear, accurate instructions are essential to making SugarDrive accessible and easy to use—especially for people who rely on it in real-world driving situations.

You can view the draft here:
👉 SugarDrive WiFi Setup Instructions (PDF)

If you spot anything confusing, incomplete, or just awkwardly worded, please let me know. Even small suggestions make a big difference.

Thanks in advance for your help!

—John