Who are you?

I'm Kelvin, and I've been living with type 1 diabetes for over two decades now. My parents are from Suriname, but I was born and raised in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. I enjoy being creative in different forms—through words, imagination, visual arts, and dance. I have a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, but after graduating, I became a medical doctor.

Can you tell us something special about you that not many people know?

I like to dance a specific partner dance called Urban Kiz.

What were the biggest challenges you faced before using a closed-loop system?

I used to work evening and night shifts, which really threw me off balance. I would struggle for days afterward to get things back on track. I've never been a very scheduled eater—and still find it difficult—so that was always a weak spot, especially combined with the shifts.

Can you tell us about your diabetes journey and what led you to open-source looping?

I started experimenting with coding during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There wasn't much else to do, and it seemed like an interesting way to spend my free time. That new hobby led me to discover open-source looping in 2021. I was amazed by how much of a positive impact it had on my life—all thanks to the hard work of software developers who contributed to creating open-source solutions. As a result, I transitioned from working in healthcare to health tech, and I've been loving it ever since.

What are the biggest benefits you've experienced with open-source looping?

I sleep better, I feel better, and I'm able to go for 10km runs (and longer) without having to worry about my diabetes.

Have you faced any major issues with your open-source loop setup? How did you solve them?

Yes, in the first couple of weeks, my blood sugars were all over the place, and my HbA1c actually got worse. That was because I had to get used to a lot of things all at once—a glucose sensor, pump, infusion sets, understanding the algorithm, adjusting basals, etc. I just kept going because I saw the system's potential, and after a while, I understood how everything worked.

Thanks to the challenges I went through, and my background as a medical doctor, I truly believe that while many people get the hang of it quickly, others really struggle and need support to get things running smoothly.

What's your advice for someone struggling with their open-source loop settings?

Take it step by step and be patient. Hard work pays off.

Where do you see the future of diabetes in 10 years?

I believe diabetes will be a fully solved digital problem. With the right combination of software, hardware, an online community, and if needed a coach, it'll take very little effort to achieve 100% time in tight range.
Unlike the current situation, the solution should also be accessible to people who aren't tech-savvy and those who lack the means to obtain the necessary equipment.

Who are you?

From a young age, I was always drawn to deep, reflective thinking. My imagination was vivid, and I was a bit of a loner—content to lose myself for hours in wonder, detached from others. That had its pros and cons.

At 18, I was diagnosed with diabetes. Back then, I had just started my pre-training to become a soldier in the Dutch Army. My first blood glucose reading was 22.3 mmol/L, and just like that, I was ushered into the grinder—the same one every type 1 diabetic has to go through.

Those first few years were tough. Acceptance didn't come easily. I still remember my first hypo—I was convinced I was going to die. For the first decade, I relied on injections and struggled to achieve stable control. I didn't take my sugars seriously at all, and my BG levels were, frankly, a disaster. It wasn't until I was about 26 that I got my first pump. Then, at 30 (now eight years ago), I started researching DIY closed-loop systems.

It took me months to grasp the basics, which is why I tell people I've been looping for eight years now. And honestly? It's the best thing that's ever happened to my life with diabetes.

By profession, I'm an AI engineer, with extensive experience designing, building, and implementing software and cloud solutions—both on the business and technical sides. My driving force in life is to alleviate or even solve human suffering, and that's where I derive my sense of purpose.

Can you tell us something special about you that not so many people know?

At heart, I'm a recluse—more of a farmer than an IT guy. Working with living, growing things feels like breathing for my soul, and I experience it almost as a spiritual practice. This "spiritual" element is the foundation of everything I am.

What were the biggest challenges you faced with your DIY closed-loop journey?

Early on, I turned too many knobs at once. My initial assumption was: This will solve my health struggles (poor control) without much effort. My technical knowledge will make it easy—just tweak the right settings, and we're done.

But reality demanded something else: I had to understand my body and behavior much better. Looping taught me more about how my body works, and that's what ultimately led to better control. Sure, I still have struggles—but it doesn't have to be perfect. Every body and mind is different. Along the way, I've conquered fears and learned patience.

For most of my looping journey, I stuck with the old algorithm (OpenAPS AMA, circa 2017) because SMB (Super Micro Bolusing) completely threw me off. Now, years later, I use SMB—but sometimes still revert to AMA for periods.

Can you tell us about your diabetes journey and what led you to open source looping?

Most of my story is already covered above. My ex-wife was the one who first pointed out that commercial closed-loop systems existed—but were expensive. I thought: Surely, there's a cheaper, open-source way. And so, my research began. It took a while before I had everything in place to build my own system.

What are the biggest benefits you've experienced with open source looping?

In short: My quality of life has improved dramatically.

• I sleep better.
• I can push harder in sports.
• I'm less affected by my own shortcomings (forgetfulness, overworking).

Have you faced any major issues with your open source loop setup? How did you solve them?

There were plenty. Yes, I'm technically skilled, but building a loop is a complex beast. Many problems arose, but most were solved by asking fellow loopers on social media—the rest came down to persistence.

What's your advice for beginners and those struggling with control?

It's a context-dependent question—every situation I've seen is different. So, the basics are:

• Ask experienced loopers for help.
• Be patient—and don't be afraid to experiment.
• Expect changes in carb ratios and insulin sensitivity as you loop.
• Make adjustments one at a time, not all at once.
• Educate yourself. There are no cheat codes in life.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

By then, I hope to have hacked together an artificial pancreas—and to have helped many others do the same.

Who are you?

I'm Vincent, a diabetes nurse educator for almost 2 years now here in the Philippines. Where we do diabetes education, basic nutrition and insulin instructions.

Can you tell us something special about you that not so many people know?

I am a trainer in a Non Profit organization called JCI, where we conduct community help, do trainings, conduct business and make young professionals be good leaders and citizens in their respective community. I also like to sell stuff, i sell condos, Cars, Food. I also love to cook.

What's the most rewarding part of helping people with diabetes through your work?

Educating patients about diabetes is really rewarding especially when they can follow what you taught them and when they go back to the clinic their laboratory results and lifestyles improve. It's also a big help especially when I'm doing medical missions in the community.

What have you learned about diabetes and DIY Looping since joining the team?

DIY looping is really not that practiced here in our Country not until Doc Kelvin introduced me to it. I do believe that DIY looping helps people manage their diabetes.

Where do you see the future of diabetes over 10 years?

That Diabetes will be treated as a serious matter. Here in the Philippines a lot of our clients take it for granted, they don't check their sugar regularly. I'm also looking forward for an accessible diabetes managements, more flexible prices for the devices so that everyone can manage their sugars like how easy for everyone to get their blood pressures.

Who are you?

I'm Redmer Nauta, a passionate software developer and dog walker.

What's the most rewarding part of helping people with diabetes through your work?

One of my inspirations for working for OSC is: "Healthy people are happy people." In other words, one of my passions is to deliver better health to people.

What have you learned about diabetes and open source looping since joining the team?

I've seen how much effort it takes for people with diabetes to take their health under their own control. It sickens me to see how many loops one has to go through when taking an alternative route for better health. (No puns intended)

Where do you see the future of diabetes over 10 years?

I see a future where people can easily set up a looping system which they benefit from health-wise and thus mood-wise!

Who are you?

I'm Corne Gabriels, 50 years old, living with MODY-type diabetes for 25 years. In daily life, I work as a data architect and I'm a passionate data enthusiast. I'm driven to use data not only in business but also to help manage and improve health.

Can you tell us something special about you that not so many people know?

I love camping, and for the past 12 years, my partner and I have been caring for our wonderful foster daughter.

What were the biggest challenges you faced before using a closed-loop system?

I didn't face many challenges, but my biggest issue is my severe insulin resistance. Managing that properly remains a key challenge, even with the closed-loop system.

Can you tell us about your diabetes journey and what led you to open source looping?

I've been living with diabetes for about 25 years. Early on, it became clear I had an unusual form of the condition with extreme insulin resistance. There's still uncertainty about the exact type — because I'm not slim, I was quickly labeled as type 2.

But after trying everything from weight loss and intensive exercise to intravenous insulin therapy, it turned out that reversing diabetes through lifestyle alone wasn't the solution for me.

After trying many different approaches, my new pump supplier recommended I explore Looping — and that turned out to be a workable and effective option.

What are the biggest benefits you've experienced with open source looping?

The biggest benefits have been a significant improvement in both my HbA1c and my overall quality of life.

Have you faced any major issues with your open source loop setup? How did you solve them?

I haven't experienced major issues, mainly because I'm an experienced IT professional and have been very hands-on with managing my own diabetes for many years.

What's your advice for someone struggling with their open source loop settings?

Start slowly, take small steps, and make sure to carefully read the open source looping documentation.

Don't try to set everything up all at once — manage your expectations and adjust them as you go.

Where do you see the future of diabetes over 10 years?

I see two major directions:

• The development of cell growth technologies to regenerate insulin-producing cells
• The digital pancreas — combining AI with increasingly compact and efficient hardware