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

[donnellysdogs]

I went to nurse appt with hubby today. He lost a lot of weight by low carb and higher fat and asked for another cholesterol test etc.

Nurse was adamant at carbs for every meal and fat such as cream, cheese etc were bad.. Just hoping that his tests when he gets them done in 4 weeks proves her wrong!

I get so fed up with healthcare professionals that do not update their knowledge since they were trained. Its scary.

 

[Bluetit1802]

It isn't just nurses. It's GP's too. My non-diabetic friend recently had an HbA1c come back at 43. Her GP told her it is within acceptable levels and to go to Weight Watchers, lose weight, and keep away from fat.

 

[donnellysdogs]

It isn't just nurses. It's GP's too. My non-diabetic friend recently had an HbA1c come back at 43. Her GP told her it is within acceptable levels and to go to Weight Watchers, lose weight, and keep away from fat.

Ggggggrrrrrrrr!!

 

[andylamb]

You are in my neck of the woods but I've not heard of that course how does it differ from Expert which was the only one mentioned to me

Hiya Poohtiggy, I have to be honest and say I am not sure.

What I have found from the web is That SOCCER stands for Stockport Optimising Carbohydrate Counting, Education and Results- This is copied and pasted from the Stockport NHS page -
"The Stockport Diabetes Service welcomed the Mayor of Stockport Councillor Chris Murphy for the grand opening of SOCCER (Stockport Optimising Carbohydrate Counting, Education and Results), a course for type 1 diabetic patients.
The course includes the relationship between insulin and meals, importance of maintaining good glucose balance and how the person does this alongside their lifestyle.
The SOCCER programme is held one day per week over four weeks, with a six week follow-up session. The course is run by a diabetes specialist nurse, a diabetes dietician and a consultant diabetologist.
It is being offered to around 60 patients who are currently using the Stockport Diabetes Service, but hopes to expand in the future so that GPs can refer patients straight onto the programme.
The programme was launched with the support of an educational grant from Sanofi pharmaceutical company."

 

[jay hay-char]

I did the DESMOND course before Christmas, about six months after being diagnosed (it was the first date they were able to offer me). By that time I'd done a lot of research online, with the result that I didn't learn anything much from the course that I didn't already know. If I had been ignorant about T2, I dare say that I would have learned some useful stuff about the condition, but less about how to manage it. The one session that I did find useful, because I hadn't then been seen by a podiatrist, was the session about feet and footcare.

The session on diet was the usual Eat Well Plate stuff. We could argue for ever about whether it is good advice or bad to tell people to eat starchy carbs with every meal when they're diabetic but they did, at least, explain that carbs turn to glucose and that you need to exercise moderation in all things if you want to keep your levels under control. I said on here at the time that I thought it might be better to succeed in persuading people to modify their diet a bit rather than to completely fail to persuade them to make quite significant changes, but I thought they rather over-egged the "You don't have to make massive changes to your diet, just minor adjustments" schtick. When I asked if it was really sensible advice to eat carbohydrates with every meal, the Dietician went off on a bit of a tangent and started talking about how a high-protein diet might be bad if you had kidney damage. No doubt true, and of greater relevance to Diabetics than to some others because of the higher risk of kidney damage, but she never really answered my question.

So, I wouldn't describe it as useless but it was of limited value to me and, as already mentioned ad nauseam, the advice about diet is probably best described as debateable. On a practical, administrative note, apparently they always over book the courses because there is a high no-show rate. Inevitably, everyone turned up for the course I was on, with the result that the room allocated for the course was far too small and there wasn't really time for any discussions or meaningful response to questions (as above ).

 

[seasidegirl]

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.

Why Heinz Tomato Soup please? and surely grapes and pineapples worse nthan pears?

Our area doesn't do formal educational courses! Just got a puzzled look and a <ive shake in reply to my request.

 

[seasidegirl]

I have been on the 'heidi' course in the Scottish highlands. It was a very good course and we were given a accucheck aviva expert meter which I have found invaluable for carb counting and insulin units.

What is the "heidi" course please?

 

[poohtiggy]

Hiya Poohtiggy, I have to be honest and say I am not sure.

What I have found from the web is That SOCCER stands for Stockport Optimising Carbohydrate Counting, Education and Results- This is copied and pasted from the Stockport NHS page -
"The Stockport Diabetes Service welcomed the Mayor of Stockport Councillor Chris Murphy for the grand opening of SOCCER (Stockport Optimising Carbohydrate Counting, Education and Results), a course for type 1 diabetic patients.
The course includes the relationship between insulin and meals, importance of maintaining good glucose balance and how the person does this alongside their lifestyle.
The SOCCER programme is held one day per week over four weeks, with a six week follow-up session. The course is run by a diabetes specialist nurse, a diabetes dietician and a consultant diabetologist.
It is being offered to around 60 patients who are currently using the Stockport Diabetes Service, but hopes to expand in the future so that GPs can refer patients straight onto the programme.
The programme was launched with the support of an educational grant from Sanofi pharmaceutical company."

Ahh, that's why I hand' t heard of Soccer,I'm type 2! Sorry so late replying to you but had an overnight stay away yesterday. Welcome to the forum I'm sure you will soon find your way around and find lots of help and support here

 

[Richard F]

Carbs 4-1

Run from Rugby hospital. I was skeptical at 1st but what a great course run by great people.
I've been T1 since 1978 and learned loads, thoroughly recommended.

 

[bobandpat]

No courses to be had when I was diagnosed, early 1974. Told to go see my GP for paperwork that would explain carbs/insulin.

Not been given a chance at a course since they became available as I was seeing the wrong specialist, at the hospital, and they wouldn't transfer me to the right one. I kicked up a fuss and they discharged me after 39 years, local hospital has decided that they're putting diabetes care back to GPs after raising millions of pounds to open a diabetes care centre

 

[donnellysdogs]

No courses to be had when I was diagnosed, early 1974. Told to go see my GP for paperwork that would explain carbs/insulin.

Not been given a chance at a course since they became available as I was seeing the wrong specialist, at the hospital, and they wouldn't transfer me to the right one. I kicked up a fuss and they discharged me after 39 years, local hospital has decided that they're putting diabetes care back to GPs after raising millions of pounds to open a diabetes care centre

OMG!!

 

[rowan]

Are they all for Type 1? I'm T2 and didn't even know there were courses..

 

[Wetherelt]

Never been offered any courses,and Cornwall seems to lack.

 

[johnboy412000]

I did the DESMOND course before Christmas, about six months after being diagnosed (it was the first date they were able to offer me). By that time I'd done a lot of research online, with the result that I didn't learn anything much from the course that I didn't already know. If I had been ignorant about T2, I dare say that I would have learned some useful stuff about the condition, but less about how to manage it. The one session that I did find useful, because I hadn't then been seen by a podiatrist, was the session about feet and footcare.

The session on diet was the usual Eat Well Plate stuff. We could argue for ever about whether it is good advice or bad to tell people to eat starchy carbs with every meal when they're diabetic but they did, at least, explain that carbs turn to glucose and that you need to exercise moderation in all things if you want to keep your levels under control. I said on here at the time that I thought it might be better to succeed in persuading people to modify their diet a bit rather than to completely fail to persuade them to make quite significant changes, but I thought they rather over-egged the "You don't have to make massive changes to your diet, just minor adjustments" schtick. When I asked if it was really sensible advice to eat carbohydrates with every meal, the Dietician went off on a bit of a tangent and started talking about how a high-protein diet might be bad if you had kidney damage. No doubt true, and of greater relevance to Diabetics than to some others because of the higher risk of kidney damage, but she never really answered my question.

So, I wouldn't describe it as useless but it was of limited value to me and, as already mentioned ad nauseam, the advice about diet is probably best described as debateable. On a practical, administrative note, apparently they always over book the courses because there is a high no-show rate. Inevitably, everyone turned up for the course I was on, with the result that the room allocated for the course was far too small and there wasn't really time for any discussions or meaningful response to questions (as above ).

How come it runs from 9am to 4pm ? it seems an awful long time and how long do you get for Lunch ?

 

[jay hay-char]

The particular course that I attended was done in two three-hour sessions, held over two mornings (consecutive Saturdays, as it happens, though I think they also run them during the week). There was a twenty-minute break for desperate caffeine addicts (i.e. me ) to get a fix from a drink machine nearby. There was also the usual NHS comedy snack vending machine with crisps, sugary drinks and Mars Bars available, which I managed, manfully, to resist.

The other point, which I'd forgotten, is that the course is run at several venues in the area, including a major hospital ten minutes walk from Hay-Char Towers. The venue for my course, naturally, was ten miles away. I rang up to remonstrate, only to be told that if I wanted a course at the local hospital, I'd have to wait a further three months. At which point I gave up ....... :***:

 

[CollieBoy]

The particular course that I attended was done in two three-hour sessions, held over two mornings (consecutive Saturdays, as it happens, though I think they also run them during the week). There was a twenty-minute break for desperate caffeine addicts (i.e. me ) to get a fix from a drink machine nearby. There was also the usual NHS comedy snack vending machine with crisps, sugary drinks and Mars Bars available, which I managed, manfully, to resist.

The other point, which I'd forgotten, is that the course is run at several venues in the area, including a major hospital ten minutes walk from Hay-Char Towers. The venue for my course, naturally, was ten miles away. I rang up to remonstrate, only to be told that if I wanted a course at the local hospital, I'd have to wait a further three months. At which point I gave up ....... :***:

Calm down! Anyone would think they run these courses for our benefit!

 

[jay hay-char]

Calm down! Anyone would think they run these courses for our benefit!

Yeah, sorry; I'm a hard man to please

 

[johnboy412000]

The particular course that I attended was done in two three-hour sessions, held over two mornings (consecutive Saturdays, as it happens, though I think they also run them during the week). There was a twenty-minute break for desperate caffeine addicts (i.e. me ) to get a fix from a drink machine nearby. There was also the usual NHS comedy snack vending machine with crisps, sugary drinks and Mars Bars available, which I managed, manfully, to resist.

The other point, which I'd forgotten, is that the course is run at several venues in the area, including a major hospital ten minutes walk from Hay-Char Towers. The venue for my course, naturally, was ten miles away. I rang up to remonstrate, only to be told that if I wanted a course at the local hospital, I'd have to wait a further three months. At which point I gave up ....... :***:

The course im attending is at a local hospital they have regular breaks and theres a little cafe in the hospital run by volunteers.Not sure when and how long it opens for so ill be taking a sarnie with me and maybe something to snack on at tea breaks.They provide refreshments so they say.Ive asked them how long lunch break is and they say it can be an hour though most prefer to cut it short and crack on with the course and get an early finish.I can resist the mars bars etc theres no probs there lol.I do however have to catch 2 buses so to get there for 8:50am ill be off out the door for the 7:08am bus to town and the 8am bus to the hospital.

 

[killerkaz]

I went on DESMOND last week. As I have said in a previous thread I found it very informative. the nurses were very pro-active. Up to date with recent research, advocated everything that has been said on this forum about low carbs. I came away feeling very positive that I had been doing everything right so far. From what I have read on here though I think these nurses must be the exception rather than the rule.

 

[Gemma2]

I was diagnosed 52 years ago as Type 1 and I have recently graduated on a Dafne course. I found the whole course a very valuable learning experience. I am 74 years old and I fitted in really well with younger members. Previously I thought I knew it all but things have changed greatly since I was first diagnosed. I remember the old glass syringes which you had to sterilise in boiling water! Diabetes has affected my eyesight badly over the years and I only wish I could turn the clock back.