Idiots guide to standard deviation?

[Pumper_Sue]

Can someone explain in very simple terms what it is and what the numbers mean please? Ta very much. 🙂
Please do note I don't do numbers unless there's a pound sign in front of them.

 

[AlisonM]

Sorry Sue, I can balance my chequebook (or could if I still used one) but that's about it. I'm dreading the day when I have to start calculating my insulin for real.

 

[Vicsetter]

Any particular reason why?

I'm not going to explain it but I did find this site which, if you ignore the formulas, explains it pretty well:

http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/standard-deviation.html

Juts look at the words and pictures.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Any particular reason why?

I'm not going to explain it but I did find this site which, if you ignore the formulas, explains it pretty well:

http://www.mathsisfun.com/data/standard-deviation.html

Juts look at the words and pictures.

Thanks vicsetter, that is great 🙂
The reason for wanting to know what it was is that I've been using a cgm for the past week and the charts provided stated standard deviation of 0.8 so mystery solved.

I shall save that site ta very much.

 

[Hanmillmum]

Thanks vicsetter, that is great 🙂
The reason for wanting to know what it was is that I've been using a cgm for the past week and the charts provided stated standard deviation of 0.8 so mystery solved.

I shall save that site ta very much.

Very impressive Sue, am I correct in thinking that a SD of >2 is pretty good indeed! (Someone tell me if I'm wrong) What do you think of the cgm ?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Very impressive Sue, am I correct in thinking that a SD of >2 is pretty good indeed! (Someone tell me if I'm wrong) What do you think of the cgm ?

No idea about the SD numbers at all 🙂

I love the cgm though, it's a real eye opener making me look at basal settings in a different light. Basal testing for this evening went out of the window though as made a carrot cake this morning, so that needed tasting just to make sure it was ok. 😉

 

[bev]

Hi Sue,

When we went to the last FFL Gary Schneider was explaining that and SD of 3 or under was ideal and would indicate no risk of any future complications - so getting a 0.8 is brilliant well done! Your levels must be fairly stable to get such a great SD!🙂Bev

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Sue,

When we went to the last FFL Gary Schneider was explaining that and SD of 3 or under was ideal and would indicate no risk of any future complications - so getting a 0.8 is brilliant well done! Your levels must be fairly stable to get such a great SD!🙂Bev

Thanks Bev, there are one or two hiccups which need ironing out. I do test a lot though but the dexcom has been a revelation, just hope the sensor will restart again tomorrow as it day 7 then.

 

[bev]

Thanks Bev, there are one or two hiccups which need ironing out. I do test a lot though but the dexcom has been a revelation, just hope the sensor will restart again tomorrow as it day 7 then.

Hi Sue,

Some on the CWD restart but find they have to then tape the sensor down as the sticky starts to fray so they stick some tape around it to help🙂Bev

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I *love* SD! For a set of data where you have a relatively consistent frequency of sampling (like BGs) it gives a great ready-reckoned of how scattered apart or grouped together they are. And best of all the SD is in the same units as the sample, so if you have an average BG of 6.0 and an SD of 2 then almost all of your BGs have been between 4 and 8 (plus or minus the SD of 2 from the average).

Your SD if 0.8 is just amazing Sue!

 

[Copepod]

Can someone explain in very simple terms what it is and what the numbers mean please? Ta very much. 🙂
Please do note I don't do numbers unless there's a pound sign in front of them.

Standard deviation works just as well for prices as blood glucose readings or any other set of numbers 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Sue,

Some on the CWD restart but find they have to then tape the sensor down as the sticky starts to fray so they stick some tape around it to help🙂Bev

I have some skin Tac plus some ME FIX tape so fingers crossed.

I *love* SD! For a set of data where you have a relatively consistent frequency of sampling (like BGs) it gives a great ready-reckoned of how scattered apart or grouped together they are. And best of all the SD is in the same units as the sample, so if you have an average BG of 6.0 and an SD of 2 then almost all of your BGs have been between 4 and 8 (plus or minus the SD of 2 from the average).

Your SD if 0.8 is just amazing Sue!

I've had a good look at all the data still not that much wiser, there seems to be other SD's as well they vary from 0.8 - 1.8 no idea how accurate they would be though as the cgm isn't 100% accurate. It's def a lot better than I expected though so well pleased with it. Dif between meter and cgm can be as much as 1.5 sometimes but 85% seems to be within 0.3 of meter reading.

 

[bev]

I have some skin Tac plus some ME FIX tape so fingers crossed.


I've had a good look at all the data still not that much wiser, there seems to be other SD's as well they vary from 0.8 - 1.8 no idea how accurate they would be though as the cgm isn't 100% accurate. It's def a lot better than I expected though so well pleased with it. Dif between meter and cgm can be as much as 1.5 sometimes but 85% seems to be within 0.3 of meter reading.

Hi Sue,

I havent looked at a download for dexcom yet - only seen them for Medtronic. Is the 0.8 for one day? Usually you would take the SD for over a week or so to get a fuller picture of levels as one day's worth wouldnt really tell you much other than you've had a really stable day. Just interested to know how it works on the dexcom🙂Bev

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Sue,

I havent looked at a download for dexcom yet - only seen them for Medtronic. Is the 0.8 for one day? Usually you would take the SD for over a week or so to get a fuller picture of levels as one day's worth wouldnt really tell you much other than you've had a really stable day. Just interested to know how it works on the dexcom🙂Bev

I have the vibe so used diasend and I had never downloaded anything before so set it to show 1 weeks worth then did the whole lot since I've had this pump. 1 weeks worth was 0.8 so if that's good I'm pleased. I doubt it will ever be repeated lol.
Say's 92% of numbers in range as well for the last week. That's chuffed me more than anything.

 

[Bloden]

Only bit I understood of that was the 92% in range bit - wow!!!🙂 You ARE your pancreas.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Only bit I understood of that was the 92% in range bit - wow!!!🙂 You ARE your pancreas.

Lol glad someone else is good at numbers like me.

Without cgm I'm normally 86% in range this is with a lot of finger pokes though. The cgm gave me that extra help. Sensor went on strike this morning decided it had done enough work for the 7 days. So I have stopped it and restarted it. I'm very hopeful for an extra week out of it. Just waiting the 2 hours whilst it sorts its self out.

 

[Phil65]

0.8 SD is something I have never seen on my meter averages Sue, really well done!! That is amazing! I always consider that if my SD is under 2 I am really pleased; out of curiosity I've just checked my combo meter:

7 days 5.7 ave, SD 2.3
14 days 5.7 ave, SD 2.6
30 days 6.1 ave, SD 3.1
60 days 6.2 ave, SD 2.9
90 days 6.2 ave, SD 2.9

Not entirely happy but not too unhappy......I wish my cannulas didn't cause me as many problems as they do!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

0.8 SD is something I have never seen on my meter averages Sue, really well done!! That is amazing! I always consider that if my SD is under 2 I am really pleased; out of curiosity I've just checked my combo meter:

7 days 5.7 ave, SD 2.3
14 days 5.7 ave, SD 2.6
30 days 6.1 ave, SD 3.1
60 days 6.2 ave, SD 2.9
90 days 6.2 ave, SD 2.9

Not entirely happy but not too unhappy......I wish my cannulas didn't cause me as many problems as they do!

Thanks Phil. I shall frame the result as could be a one and only lol.
The result was from cgm use though so suspect it different to meter.

 

[Bloden]

Shame CGM isn't standard across the board!

 

[Phil65]

Thanks Phil. I shall frame the result as could be a one and only lol.
The result was from cgm use though so suspect it different to meter.

ha,ha,.............i had a new meter some time ago and had a pie chart of 100% in the green/"in range"....I had only carried out 6 tests but loved that pie chart! 😉