Back in Ye Darke Ages, we were taught carb counting and more about the effect of diet regarding diabetes than DAFNE ever has.
. The problem was that there was ( and still is!) a discrepancy on the standard of information given around the country. Hence the introduction of a" standard" course. DAFNE.
DAFNE has been around in the UK since around 2000 or so, and it not the only and definitive course for Type 1 . There have also been some excellent locally run courses up and down the country, some which go further than DAFNE in personal management . DAFNE is the most expensive course to run, as it is contracted from Germany where it originated, but as far as I can tell, there hasn't really been updates on since its inception in the UK, whereas locally run courses often do update their information. All of these courses are useful in delivering structured education regarding dose adjustment at a basic level, sick day rules, the effect of exercise , but in my opinion some of what DAFNE teaches is flawed, so when it doesn't work, participants are left feeling they are to blame .
I feel that DAFNE is as good as anything as an introductory course, but ideally needs to be updated and upgraded, or else have a follow up course as happens with some of the local ones. DAFNE educators have expressed frustration ( to me, informally ) that they cannot deviate in any way from the DAFNE format because of the existing contract, something that doesn't happen in the locally run courses where there is far more freedom and flexibility.
@Dillinger , you have not missed anything you don't already know, and I think your own knowledge surpassed DAFNE a long time ago
Signy