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How much do you use the standard deviation measurement (the measure of how variable your blood glucose readings are) when reviewing your glucose reports?
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I’m not a numbers person and I’m not going to be OCD about all the data like that. Just respond to highs and lows, try to stay in control, and live my best life. Won’t let data bog me down.
Often. Good control should be a sigma (standard deviation) of less than 3 times the average BG reading.
My morning variability causes ridiculous variation. This is because of my high morning oscillations. I havent seen any way to bring that down. So, what’s the use? Afternoon, evening, over night are better, however.
I look at the graph throughout the day so I know the general variability and address it in real time. For me, knowing the standard deviation, afterwards, doesn’t change my course of action. For my doctor, it would be beneficial. She can look at one number and understand how I’m doing instead of reviewing individual, daily charts.
I use the stddev but I prefer time in range function on my pump. My endo looks at this and if it is off in relation to my history we go to the stddev as to the variance then make changes to my pump settings and dosages. H1ac has never been better nor more stable in 50 hrs on insulin.
I monitor it via Sugarmate regularly using a 14 day period, to insure it’s relatively low per standard guidance and note it to my Endo. But it isn’t a primary measurement.
Is there are norm for this? Time in range can be managed using the alarms, but stddev for non-diabetics might be useful as a standard. Are there statistics? Surely ups and downs are standard? We eat bg goes up, we exercise it comes down, as it should?
Yes, it would be interesting to see what the std dev for normal is.
I find the SD is helpful in reminding myself that a few highs or lows don’t compromise my overall TIR that much. It is so easy to overgeneralize from a few challenging BG events.
For the life of me! I’m going to have my coffee before trying to answer some of these questions! I go over all of my readings with my Dr. Don’t know how my next appointment is going to go as Medtronic has still not fixed the app that sends all my info to my doc!
How do you get tight control without looking at the average value and spread or standard deviation ?
My favorite report is the Dexcom Clarity two-week comparison that includes all the numbers so you can see hoe you are trending, up or down.
Only with my endocrinologist at regular appointments. I don’t review standard dev myself, just time in range.
Haven’t used standard deviation in years, but I might try it again.
I was told a number that is good, but I don’t actually remember precisely what that number is… I _think_ I was told that a standard deviation 50 and under was good. So, I always hope to hit that number.
I’ve looked at how to calculate standard deviation, but it’s a math doozy that I haven’t enough brain cells for! :p
So, I look at the number but it doesn’t really change my treatment of me… I can use the TIR and graphs to see where the deviations are greater to help me out.
I know and understand standard deviations, but honestly, it’s just too much information for me. I know that I go too high and too low sometimes, but I don’t need to be reminded. Occasionally, or more likely, rarely to I look at it.
There was a time years ago, when I was looking at my standard deviation. They were running in the 30’s-40’s range. Then I was reading online, people reporting standard deviations of 5, 10, 15, 20. Which, by the way I don’t believe. So, I just stopped looking at mine.
Used to pre-pump and CGM days. I upload every month, and I self-devised range (60-120) and mostly flat-lines tell me what i need to know. I do have those unwelcome numbers, but I nip them in the bud.
Try to keep under 25
I said “sometimes”, but I don’t actually look at the numeric value. I do pay attention to the range of values graphically displayed when I create reports, however.
On my CGM I look at it, compared to my “average” glucose reading. Knowing that my average seems to be higher than the doctor’s a1C (my 30 day average of 113 could be an a1C of 5.6, historically it’s closer to 6.0) that standard deviation knowing my average is closer to 125, meaning my deviation of 37 makes me 80-ish to 162-ish… I think? My time in range for 30 days is 79%, I feel good about that.
My scale is how I feel day-to-day. Which although a sore back and knees (age and work?) I feel good. That’s the most important.
(my “range” for my alarms are 70-125)
I do review the SD and mine used to run 45-55 range but since being on automated insulin delivery system I am now averaging low 30’s.
I only recently started doing this. I read that it is the new go to for having good control of blood glucose, so I started following it on my own. I started with a new endo within the past year. He commented that he’d like to make some adjustments to my insulin. I wondered why, as my A1C was good. Having just read an article about variables, I looked and saw my standard deviation is over 30 mg/dl. So, I went with his recommendation. – – I should point out that I am guessing that the standard deviation is what is meant by variable here.
I visit every 3 months with my encrinologist. My dexcom has a scale on it but the chart is not correct. My blood sugar on the screen on my pump will say that my blood sugar is 41. My actual blood sugar with a needle stick will show 78. My endocrinologist attempts to adjust my insulin using the information from my pump.
I have read that a standard deviation of less than 40 was considered good. Today, after a rough night, mine is 40. I do glance at it every week, but not sure where to go to get help on how to use this information to improve my readings.
I use the Dexcom Clarity reports at least once per day to review my sensor glucose average and standard deviation. Average glucose means nothing if you have a huge Standard Deviation (how far above and below are the average do the glucose readings). I strive for a STDev less than 25, but 30 isn’t too bad either.