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Reading graphs

A Whole Day, Repeated

Look at the day as one line, not peak by peak. Some things only show up here.

The graph

Example curve of rises and falls across a day with four doses The horizontal axis runs from 06:00 to 00:00. The vertical axis is how well the body is moving, relative to that person's own range — higher is better movement. Doses are marked at 07:00, 11:00, 15:00, 19:00. The highest point is around 12:20. higher lower 07:00 11:00 15:00 19:00 06 09 12 15 18 21 24 Example curve of rises and falls across a day with four doses The horizontal axis runs from 06:00 to 00:00. The vertical axis is how well the body is moving, relative to that person's own range — higher is better movement. Doses are marked at 07:00, 11:00, 15:00, 19:00. The highest point is around 12:20. higher lower 07:00 11:00 15:00 19:00 06 09 12 15 18 21 24
  • Response through the day
  • Time a dose was taken
An illustration generated for teaching. It does not represent the response to any particular medication or dose, and real curves differ from person to person.

Looking at a whole day as one line shows things you can’t see peak by peak — the difference between morning and afternoon, where the low stretches fall, and the rhythm of the day as a whole.

The first thing to look at is where the low stretches fall. What you take away is completely different depending on whether the low stretches always come right before the next dose, or are scattered without regard to time of day. In the first case, you’re looking at the relationship between hold time and dosing interval. In the second, you’re also looking at what was different about that particular day.

A day’s curve tells you more when you line up several days side by side. What looks like just that day’s circumstances when you look at only one day reveals, once three or four days build up, whether it’s a repeating pattern or not. When you bring records to a visit, several days’ worth is far more useful than just one day’s.

What to look at

  • How many peaks there are, and where The number of doses and the day's rhythm come into view at a glance.
  • Where the low stretches fall Whether the low stretches always come right before the next dose, or cluster only in a certain part of the day.
  • The difference between morning and afternoon peaks Whether the height and width change depending on the time of day.
  • The start and the end of the day What condition you're in before the first dose and after the last one.

Worth recording when you see this shape

  • Every dose time of the day Missing even one makes that stretch harder to interpret.
  • Several output readings across the day You need a mix of good and hard moments to draw the rises and falls.
  • Meal times This lets you see whether they overlap with doses.
  • Anything unusual that day Note things like going out, exercise, or a poor night's sleep.

The shape of the curve is material for describing your situation. Decisions about the type, dose, or timing of medication belong with the clinicians who look after you.

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