Poll: Which diabetes course(s) have you attended?

Which of the following structured diabetes education courses have you attended?

  • DAFNE

    Votes: 122 18.8%
  • DESMOND

    Votes: 122 18.8%
  • X-PERT

    Votes: 70 10.8%
  • ASPIRE

    Votes: 3 0.5%
  • Freedom4Life

    Votes: 2 0.3%
  • Other (Please state in a post)

    Votes: 67 10.3%
  • Never attended one

    Votes: 291 44.8%

  • Total voters
    650

Ayrshire Dave

Active Member
Messages
26
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Reality shows and people who wear sunglasses on top of their heads especially indoors.
Never been offered one, but that seems to be the norm at our doctors, once they have made the diagnosis you are on your own.
Dave

EDIT: Just googled one of the courses DAFNE and it is for type 1 and I am type 2 so probably theses courses are not relevant to me
 
C

catherinecherub

Guest
Never been offered one, but that seems to be the norm at our doctors, once they have made the diagnosis you are on your own.
Dave

EDIT: Just googled one of the courses DAFNE and it is for type 1 and I am type 2 so probably theses courses are not relevant to me


Hi @Ayrshire Dave,

You are entitled to go on a course and your area should provide one. EXPERT and DESMOND are relevant to Type2s and some areas do their own course with various names.

These are the healthcare essentials that you are entitled to including education.


Attend an education course to help you understand and manage your diabetes. You should be offered and have the opportunity to attend courses in your local area.

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Document...s/15-healthcare-essentials-checklist-0714.pdf
 
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Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Diabetes
I attended a 4 week course, once a week for 2 and half hours, called Juggle. Each week they look at different aspects of Diabetes (type2) I was diagnosed 18 months ago as borderline so was told to cut out sugary things, which I thought I did. Ate nothing 'sugary' so thought was doing fine. Had to have an op so went for the pre op assesment, told the nurse I was borderline so she took my bloods and got back to me that afternoon advising me to go see my GP soon as pos as my bloods were sky high. Was put on Metformin and the Juggle programme was recommended. They basically told me to try and eat something carby every 4 hours to stabilise my sugars. Everything else I learned on the programme was pretty informative but the eating carby things confuses me as I thought eating too many carbs isnt good. I have just joined this forum and am reading about LCHF which is what Im going to be doing :)
 
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johnboy412000

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,606
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Arrogant and ignorant people.
I've wrote to Desmond asking to cancel my course and if they have any courses that run for just a few hours as i feel 9am to 4pm is far too long to be sat in a class room.I'd much rather have some shorter courses say 9am to 12 noon and preferably nearer to home.My lifestyle is tiring given that the wife wakes me at least once in the night she gets stiff and needs turning over this results in me being tired the next day.My Bells Palsy also zaps the energy bank.At least i have given them 2 weeks notice which is time enough for them to offer the course to someone else.
 

johnboy412000

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,606
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Arrogant and ignorant people.
I attended a 4 week course, once a week for 2 and half hours, called Juggle. Each week they look at different aspects of Diabetes (type2) I was diagnosed 18 months ago as borderline so was told to cut out sugary things, which I thought I did. Ate nothing 'sugary' so thought was doing fine. Had to have an op so went for the pre op assesment, told the nurse I was borderline so she took my bloods and got back to me that afternoon advising me to go see my GP soon as pos as my bloods were sky high. Was put on Metformin and the Juggle programme was recommended. They basically told me to try and eat something carby every 4 hours to stabilise my sugars. Everything else I learned on the programme was pretty informative but the eating carby things confuses me as I thought eating too many carbs isnt good. I have just joined this forum and am reading about LCHF which is what Im going to be doing :)


Now thats more like it 2 1/2 hours would be better for me 9am to 4pm is way too long to be sat in a classroom id lose interest after 3 hours.

Ouch Metformin i sure hope they dont put me on that stuff it nearly wiped my wife's kidneys out did that stuff.My diabetic nurse gave me a list of whats safe to eat and what isnt it included starchy stuff and carbs like Potato's and bread.I have these in moderation of course.
 
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Applenerd81

Well-Known Member
Messages
205
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Carbs
I've been type 1 for 20+ years and never recommended to attend a course. Told I didn't need it (based on discussion with consultant). My hba1cs have been in low 8s/high7s for as long as I can remember (told I wasn't too bad but could be better) with no useful help on how to achieve better figures. I'm on LCHF (via dietdoctor.com) now - best "course" I've had - hopefully hba1cs to prove it (next week).
 

JRW

Well-Known Member
Messages
275
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
T1 diagnosed two years ago, the only opportunity I had was a cancellation on a carb counting course, with less than two weeks notice, I couldn't as was working abroad that week, all booked so no chance of cancelling. I've heard nothing since. Mind you I'm not surprised as I'm an outpatient from the same hospitals trust and haven't seen my consultant or anyone there since Nov 2013.
 

lildanfen

Active Member
Messages
33
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I was diagnosed in 2001, never been on a course and my Diabetic Specialist has postponed my appointments for 4 years
 

aylalake

Well-Known Member
Messages
716
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Being told “Oh go on, one won’t hurt you!”.
Conversely, the food police.
I did a DESMOND course a few months ago, almost a year after diagnosis and several months after joining this forum.
It was a 9-4 course, and to my surprise I was not at all bored and didn't find it tiring.
I already knew a lot of the information but we had a number of people there who were clearly not well-informed and it was like watching lights go on in their heads when they realised what they were doing to themselves with their lifestyle and diet.
The nurses clearly knew their facts and the Eatwell plate didn't even rate a mention, although fats did, but the "moderation" word was used repeatedly. When I asked how "moderation" was defined, it was thrown open for group discussion. One man said 3 pints of ale and a small portion of battered fish and chips! Another said one helping of lasagne instead of two. The nurse summed up by saying that clearly moderation means different things to different people, but they suggested that the ale and fish man should reconsider his options!
I did learn a lot and it was explained simply with visual aids, so people from all walks of life could understand it.
I think it is a worthwhile course but it should be offered as soon after diagnosis as possible, not months or years down the line.
 
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Eileen 21

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Birds
I am type 2. I have never been offered a place. The only advice I have really been given by my GP and DN is to cut down on sweet things and to avoid Heinz tomato Soup and pears.
 

Eileen 21

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Birds
I have been on a expert course week 2 today. Have been diagnosed 4 years and its the first time it has been offered. I wish I had the opportunity to go on this earlier it would have helped me understand my diabetes. I am learning so much. If you get the chance to go grab it with both hands.
 
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Samm38

Active Member
Messages
26
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
People spitting. People thinking there better than me.
I'm type 2 diabetic I've never been offered anything like this. I don't even get any usefull info off my doctors. One doctor says one thing then another controdicts saying something else. So I never know who to believe or what to do. It gets very confusing.
 

Okjilly67

Well-Known Member
Messages
66
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Moaners!! Cold weather, being shut in for months being without my friends and family oooops am I moaning
I was declared "diabetic" by my GP 2 weeks ago and referred immediately to the Diabeties Nurse within the practice. I was given a check of my feet and reflexes and circulation. She applied for me to attend a Diabeties education course, which Im booked in for first week of June, I've also received my Retinal screening appointment. So far things seem to be moving at a reasonable pace. So no complaints so far. The best thing is finding this site and all you lovely people :)
 
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emilyb

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Did a DAFNE course, lasted a week but best week I spend feel much more equipped to deal with my Diabetes.
 
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pavmas

Well-Known Member
Messages
68
I am type 2. I have never been offered a place. The only advice I have really been given by my GP and DN is to cut down on sweet things and to avoid Heinz tomato Soup and pears.
I am type one never been offered any courses and eat pears, what is wrong with pears did they say
 

pavmas

Well-Known Member
Messages
68
I am T2 .. When first told of this a random person working at my health centre read out loud from the Diabites magazine .. She held her finger under each word like she was reading a Janet and John book. I was told not to ask questions and at the end of this very boring waste of time she handed me the magazine to take home and read myself.. I dropped it in the bin as I left her room and thanked her for wasting an hour of my life. She did say I would be sent to a dietician.. But I would have to stop being vegetarian first ! Needless to say I have not been to see the dietician! :banghead:
Reading this forum is an eye opener, im a vegetarian so Don,t see a problem and have not saw a dietician, why cant you be vegetarian