Graphs - now I can really see the difference

Hi

I've been using the online BG diary and playing with the graphs for about 6 weeks now and I'm finding them invaluable. The graphs help me pick out patterns that I just couldn't see in a list of numbers that seemed to me to be totally random and unpredicatable.

Using the graphs I can plan which parts of the day I need to to tackle first to make improvements - i have a feasible strategy at last! And, most importantly, they also provide a result of what my efforts have achieved.

For example, I started off with the targets pie chart, which gives a great overall view of how I'm getting o. In my heart I knew too many of my tests were too high but really had no grasp of the proportion of tests that were high or low or within target. The targets pie chart shows me the proportions (slices of pie) and the percentages (marked on the graph)and these images have made sense of what's happening.

I admit the first time I looked it was alarming to see that 73.5% of my BGs were above target and only 20% within target! But, what that did was give me something to aim for. Now each week I look at the targets graph and the trend lines for the week just gone and draw the pie chart in my DAFNE book so I can compare it with next week's results.

The first week I did this I came up with a broad goal for myself of reducing the number of above target results. After about three weeks it is now at 44% above target and 35% within target, which is a great improvement.

Next I will be looking at levelling out the trend line so that it doesn't have such dramatic "hills" at the beginning and end of the day. After that, well who knows, but I just wanted to share and say thanks for providing something that really makes a difference in terms of finding a way through the maze of diabetes managent.

Cheers.

Hi Liz,

Thanks for the feedback on the graphs - glad you are finding them useful.

From your post it seems you like to compare your results with the previous week - would you like it if there was a 'compare with previous' week option so you could see the current and previous week's graphs side by side? I'm sure this is something we could work on.

Thanks,

Simon

Also, as a general question - how do people use the graphs? More specifically - do you ever specify your own date range, or would you prefer easier to use options such as

View trend graph for: Last 7 Days | Last 14 Days | All Entries

Hi Simon,
I do compare my graphs and at the moment by base period is Monday to Sunday each week, as it is one page of DAFNE diary results. I think it would be helpful if Iif we could view graphs fortwo time periods (perhaps each with it's own date selection?) side by side on screen.

In answer to your second note, I do select my own dates quite often but having some frequently used options available would probably help speed it up. Personally I like to have the freedom to choose a non-standard period if I feel like it alongside having quick and easy options.

Hope that helps and I look forward to seeing what other people have to say.

Thanks again for your hard work on this.

Hi

I've only been using this site since completing my course at the beginning of the month and I find the graphs invaluable. They do help to make sense of my readings.
I think being able to view a comparision between weeks would be useful.
I print out my results at the end of the week and store in a file so that I can easily take a week or so to any of my health checks - as my practice nurse finds my records confusing - I write everything in a page a day diary - readings, food, meds etc. So being able to pick a last 7 day time frame would be helpful in that I wouldn't have to enter dates manually.
Thanks for everything that has gone in to making this site so brilliant. I have asked Eileen at Northampton to flag it up with Graduates and will do so myself at our next meeting.

We've just released an update to the graphs so that you can now compare two graphs of the same type. Whilst viewing a graph, click the 'Compare' link underneath the graph (above the date picking section) to view the Graph comparison screen. You can then choose different date ranges for the two graphs. We've given you handy links to quickly select to view graphs for your last 7,14, or 30 days (on the left), or the 7,14 or 30 days before the range displayed on the left hand graph.

We've tried to make this as flexibile as possible whilst still easy to use - let us know if it can be improved at all, or if it looks wrong on your system.

Thanks,

Simon

Simon
I've just had a look at the new Graph comparison screen. Bloody brilliant!
Thanks.

Hi Guys! I finally made the switch from my long-term use of an Excel spreadsheet to the online diary about a month ago. I have to say I really like it. I'm finding the graphs useful too, but can I make a request? How possible would it be as well as the combined graph to have separate trend graphs for breakfast, lunch, dinner and bed? I find that when I look at the combined graph its really difficult to make sense of what's happening as its a bit cluttered.

Also, I'm preparing for a session with the practice nurse at my GP surgery (they seem to call me in every year despite my allocation to a consultant at our local hospital trust) and have tried to print off a couple of graphs to take with me. Interestingly they've come out reversed (as in "mirror" writing) - is there a way to make printing graphs as easy as printing the diary?

Just to say again though, the online diary and current graphs are excellent!

Hi Stew,

Thanks for your feedback, I agree that when full up the trend chart can look hectic, so will work on a way to show the trend lines separately. I'll also try and fix the problem with the backwards printing (which is bizarre...)

Will let you know when this is done.

Thanks,

Simon

I agree with Stew regarding separate trend graphs for each part of the day. It would be great to be able to show my consultant at my annual review evidence in a straightforward format that I am getting it right Lunch and Dinner even though it is still 'work in progress' for Breakfast and Bed!!

The ability to compare 2 lots of dates side by side is really useful as well especially the pi chart showing % of readings that are on, under and over target which can be really encouraging and acts as an incentive to keep improving.