Riding with GlucoRoo
Add GlucoRoo Data Fields to a Ride Profile Before You Ride
- Go to the Ride Profiles menu on your Karoo
- Choose a profile to edit
- Select the page where you want to add a Data Field
- Add new data fields. GlucoRoo fields are listed along with all other Karoo fields
- You may add one or more of the GlucoRoo fields, and you may have multiple instances on different pages.
Starting GlucoRoo
GlucoRoo starts automatically
If your username and password have not been set, if you did not check the “accept” box for the disclaimer (see Settings, these should be set before you begin a ride) or if there has been a memory error and they are corrupted, GlucoRoo will display a notification prompting you to set up your account information. Once have done that, GlucoRoo will attempt to sign on and validate, and if the sign-on works then GlucoRoo will continue. Once GlucoRoo has started it will query the CGM servers for glucose data. If the most current glucose value that GlucoRoo receives from the CGM servers is in a Zone where Messages (Visual or Audio) have been set, then the message(s) for that Zone will be triggered (e.g. if the current glucose value is in the High Zone and both Visual Messages and Audio Messages are on for High Zone, both a Visual Message and an Audio Message will be generated.) This is normal and expected behavior, even if your glucose value has not changed recently
FIT File Processing
If you have enabled “Record To FIT” GlucoRoo will record your glucose readings to the FIT file for your ride. (FIT is a standard file used by the Karoo and other devices to store and share fitness, health, and sport data, such as GPS tracks, heart rate, and cadence.) GlucoRoo adds glucose readings to that. FIT recording starts when you press “start” to start your ride, so GlucoRoo records your glucose readings only from the point you start your ride until you end your ride. The Karoo also does not record while you are paused, so if you pause your ride (or allow the Karoo to auto pause if you are stopped) GlucoRoo can’t record glucose values during that period
Glucose readings are timestamped by the Karoo when GlucoRoo records them, not when your CGM recorded your glucose reading. Since there is always a slight delay (typically from 20-30 seconds) between when your CGM records your glucose level and GlucoRoo receives it, the data in the FIT file will always be slightly delayed
When processing the FIT file, the attributes of the glucose field logged by GlucoRoo are:
- Field name: “glucose”
- Units: “mg/dL”
- Base type: UINT16 (FIT type ID 132) — unsigned 16-bit integer, range 0–65535
- Field definition number: 0
The FIT file is automatically uploaded when you save your ride, and you can access it on the Hammerhead dashboard or on other services that you have connected (e.g. Strava, Ride with GPS, Suunto, Nolio, Sentiero, Trainer Road, Training Peaks, Xert, Intervals.icu, etc.) Currently only Intervals.icu reads glucose data from FIT files
GlucoRoo In-Ride Messages
Overview
Every time GlucoRoo gets a new glucose reading (usually every 5 minutes) it checks to see if a threshold has been crossed from one glucose zone to another. For example, if the last glucose result was in the Target zone and the current reading is in the Low zone. If the messages for the zone that has just been entered is turned on, GlucoRoo will display a message. As long as glucose readings stay in the same zone, no more messages will be generated. Messages are only displayed when the Ride app is on screen, so if you switch to the Control Center and a message is generated, the message will not be visible or will be delayed until you return to the Ride app. Messages are for convenience and because they may not always be visible you should always rely on your CGM app for any medical decisions
To ensure that you see all messages and have time to read the message while it is on screen, it is best to enable BOTH visual and audio messages for any messages you do not want to miss
If your Karoo is in battery-save mode, GlucoRoo will wake up the display just before it displays a message, so that you can read the message. The display will automatically return to sleep after the message has been displayed for at least 10 seconds, giving you time to read the message
Visual Messages
If visual messages are turned on, GlucoRoo will display a message indicating the zone that triggered the message, in the appropriate color (e.g. green if you entered your Target zone, yellow if you entered High or Low zones, red if you entered Very High or Very Low zones.) The message will include your current glucose reading and trend, and will stay on the screen for 10 seconds, giving you time to read the message
Visual Messages will only be displayed when you are in a ride (i.e. from when you start a ride in the Ride App until you finish) and the Ride App is on screen
Audio Messages
If audio messages are turned on, GlucoRoo will play a series of beeps indicating the zone that triggered the message. These are:
Very Low Zone – 3 descending tones (i.e. 3 tones with descending pitch) repeated 3 times
Low Zone – 3 descending tones played once, slightly higher than the tones for the Very Low Zone
Target Zone – 1 tone of medium pitch
High Zone – 3 ascending tones played once, beginning with a tone slightly higher than the Target Zone tone
Very High Zone – 3 ascending tones, beginning with an even higher pitch than the High Zone, repeated 3 times
Audio Limitations:
The Karoo 2 speaker has a very limited speaker, so it can be difficult to hear and it has limited tones, so the ascending and descending tones may not be noticable.
The New Karoo / Karoo 3 speaker is better but can also be difficult to hear over road and wind noise.
Audio messages may be difficult to hear and should not be depended on. Check your CGM app for any medical decisions