As you are doing well then as an individual perhaps it wouldn't be useful for you so fair enough, though I personally have always found something new on any course I have done.
But how does anyone know what the course is like without going on it for themselves?
If you search this forum ,you will find quite a few people who have found it to be a very good course. One of it's aims is ' 'to empower patients to enabling them to make informed decisions about their lifestyle and management of their condition' Surely a worthwhile aim. It is documented as being successful in at 14 months leading to a variety of improvements compared with people who had individual appointments (and I expect they would have done better than those just left to themselves)
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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/...ionid=E14149F4A6738EE9C9A6447A16C4F412.f03t02
The course and research project (as above) was designed by Dr Trudi Deakin who you may remember was praised for her speech at the DUK conference on carbohydrates by the 'Southport GP'
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I don't remember saying it wasn't a useful course. I do remember saying 8 months (or 7 months 2 weeks) is a little tardy for an invitation ESPECIALLY for people who may benefit enormously from it.
I'm not criticising the course (only the timing for me) and I would recommend people give serious consideration to attending for the "empowering" reasons you mentioned.
It was not my intention to discourage anyone from attending and I think I made it clear why it wasn't for me and you acknowledged this in your first paragraph.
I'm not saying I know everything.
I am sure I would learn something, but not enough to attend group meetings.
Group meetings aren't my thing (I also mentioned this before) and that's a reason I don't go to slimming clubs either. They can add pressure to some people.
Of course, as you say, we don't know what courses are like until we attend. All I can do is make an informed decision for myself, based on the invitation sent. Quote:
"X-PERT Diabetes Education has proved to improve diabetes control, reduce diabetes medications, increase self-management skills, improve lifestyle and quality of life."
As I believe I have achieved this 7 months and 2 weeks after diagnosis, I feel the course will be better suited to someone who needs it (more than I do).
Please let me reiterate, I'm not saying I know everything. I'm saying the invitation is a little late for me personally.
I'm one of the lucky ones (yes I feel lucky that I've been able to achieve what I have). I just feel these courses should be offered earlier rather than through an annual blanket invitation with a list of dates to choose from. It could be too late for some.
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