Apple Car

Zukka has long been a strong player in the xDrip ecosystem on iOS. It’s regularly updated and keeps gaining features that go beyond basic glucose display. One of the more interesting - and still underrated - options is showing your current glucose level on your car screen through Apple CarPlay. Importantly, this doesn’t require any hacks or Jailbreak . It relies on a simple but clever trick - integration with the iOS calendar. Instead of pretending to be navigation or a messaging app, Zukka saves changing glucose levels as calendar entries. Apple CarPlay automatically shows upcoming calendar events on the dashboard - and that’s how your glucose ends up right in front of you while driving. Why the calendar? - quick explanation Apple takes a strict approach to what third-party apps can display on the CarPlay screen. There’s no room for random widgets or custom interfaces. Calendar integration is a proven and fully compliant way to surface important data like glucose levels in the car. Instead of fighting system limits, Zukka uses what already works - and it works well. Enough theory - here’s how to set it up. What do you need? Before you start, prepare: Nightscout : the core of the whole setup. If you don’t have it yet, you can easily get started with https://diab.ninja What is Nightscout? Zukka app : the latest version available in the App Store About Zukka - Zukka - xDrip for iPhone (iOS) Apple Store iPhone running at least iOS 16.2 (newer versions are also compatible with CarPlay) Car with Apple CarPlay Ready? Let’s set it up step by step. Step 1: Configure the Nightscout connection in Zukka Zukka needs a data source for your glucose readings - that source is your Nightscout instance. Open Zukka and go to the Settings tab Find the Nightscout section In the URL field, enter the full address of your Nightscout instance (e.g. https://yourname.diab.ninja ). In the API_SECRET (or Token , depending on version) field, paste your API key (unless you’re using a public instance - then it’s not needed) Test the connection using the Test Connection button That’s it - Zukka is now pulling data from Nightscout. Step 2: Apple Calendar integration This is the key step that makes CarPlay display your glucose. In the main settings, find the Calendar Events section. Enable Create Calendar Events - the app will start adding entries to your calendar. Select the correct calendar ( Calendar To Use ). Pick the one synced with iCloud and visible in CarPlay. Adjust additional options as you like: Display Trend : shows a trend arrow (e.g. "up", "down"). Display Delta : shows the change since the last reading. Event Interval : how often entries are created (default is every 5 minutes). From now on, Zukka will automatically create calendar entries with your current glucose level. Step 3: Done - test it in your car Connect your iPhone to your car and launch Apple CarPlay. On the CarPlay dashboard, you should see upcoming calendar events. Among them, there will be a Zukka entry with your current glucose level and trend. It behaves like any other reminder or meeting. The difference is that this "event" updates constantly to reflect your current glucose level. Tip : Sometimes the calendar in CarPlay won’t refresh immediately. Just tap the entry briefly to update it. It’s a minor annoyance, but it happens. Limitations Live Activities are disabled in Follower mode , which means updates aren’t continuously pushed to the lock screen or Dynamic Island. Zukka doesn’t show complex charts or history in CarPlay - only the latest reading. And honestly, that’s exactly what matters while driving. Summary With Zukka’s iOS calendar integration, you can monitor your glucose safely and discreetly while driving. It uses built-in system features and avoids unnecessary complexity. The benefit is huge - especially if you spend a lot of time behind the wheel.