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DAFNE

Twinks

Well-Known Member
Messages
74
Hi everyone! Just wondering if any1 has taken part in the DAFNE course and what they thought? Iv been asked by my nurse if i want to take part as she thinks i would benefit but iv already had all my holidays at work and i don't no if its worth the hassle and what its actually all about


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I did a very similar course recently at my local hospital and have to say it was well worth going to. Taught me a lot on how to manage my diabetes better. If you are being offered a place I would advise going for it.
 
Hi yes. If you have the chance jump at it! I have been type 1 since the '80's and thought I new how to carb count but I learnt so much!

Hope all goes well

Kat


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There's a thread on the forum about 12 pages long discussing DAFNE from the graduates who have completed the course, I'd have provided a link but the forum is running painfully slow again and doesn't seem to want to search for it, I'll post sometime over the weekend for you Twinks.

I did the course back in 2009, have to say it was very worthwhile and enjoyed the whole experience. Basically they teach you to carb count and show you who to work out your insulin to carb ratio's, they also go into great detail about basal insulin's and how to adjust them, the Sick Day Rules are invaluable (as is the exercise advice) and a whole afternoon is devoted over to this very topic, if patients want to they can ask partners, family or friends to come in for the SDR session so that they can learn too.

Just about everything to do with type 1 management is discussed on the course and there's a Q & A session with the Endo's and DSN's for those that have any questions to ask at the end, the only thing that isn't discussed on the course is diet, DAFNE suggest that eating healthy is personal choice which I tend to agree with!!
 
I've just finished it last week ! But I got the chance to do it one day a week over 5 weeks on a wed along with another 6 diabetics , I've been diabetic 30 years and learned lots off it and could see the benefits by the 3rd week ask your nurse if they will consider doing it one day a week to fit in with you and others who work or have issues giving up 1 week . But it was good to learn off each other and off the dafne team ! I was unsure before I went but go for it nothing ventured is nothing gained , hope you do it , keith.


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It doesn't discuss diet? Surely that's the whole dammned point of it :evil:
 
ElyDave said:
It doesn't discuss diet? Surely that's the whole dammned point of it :evil:
Click to expand...


No it's not the point at all ElyDave.......as mentioned diet becomes an individual choice.

As we know there's no one diet that suits all and I'd imagine yours and mine will differ as much as it will from the next person..........and so on and so on........ :crazy:
 
Hi Twinks,
Its a course that all type 1 should go on, also all diabetes teams as well. Mind you, I am speaking as a 64 year old who was diagnosed 4 years ago and went through 4 years of hell for most of that time. Finally got on a DAFNE course 2 months ago and a new hospital looking after my diabetes...wow, I now feel great, BGs are mostly in single figures after being in the 20s for a long time and feeling extreme tiredness until my system gave up on me. needed 2 months off work during which time I did DAFNE. They got my ratios sorted, new team sorted out my insulins. taught me how to to apply everything, gave me loads of CONFIDENCE in what I am doing to manage my diabetes.

Diet is NOT a PROBLEM....COMMON SENCE is required so don't be silly with WHAT YOU EAT. DAFNE teaches you how CARBs affects your system. You are taught how much insulin to use for the amount of carbs you eat, so each individual must decide how much CARBS YOU EAT. DAFNE gives you the TOOLS so apply them properly.

If the correct ratios etc are being used properly it will show if you're on the correct insulins as the blood sugars will be out of sync and a pattern will show up. The course did wonders for me and I will alway recommend DAFNE.

I need to say that what I was being told to do was OKish but I know know much more. The course taught me HOW TO APPLY things. My problem was being on the incorrect insulin....levemir and later...lantus but that's another sad story.

Go on the course and ENJOY it especially if your readings 'improve'. For some people things will take time but will be better aware of what might be happening. Don't do as I used to do by correcting if my sugars were highish after a meal..2 hours. I now before wait 4-5 hours before testing as even novorapid is still working up to 4 hours. I used to correct after 2 hours and wondered why I might go into hypo later on.

I now use novo rapid, porcine isophane and 2x500mg metformin SR( 2 at breakfast and 2 at tea). It's early days on this new regime but it's working.

GOOD LUCK.
 
I couldn't get a week off work or with the kids to do DAFNE but was offered two mornings carb counting course. I've been diabetic for 18 years and its the first time I felt like someone else could help and others understood. I, myself, understand so much more now. I've also been offered a follow up with the diabetes team that run it rather than my usual dsn. I can't tell you how pleased I am about this. My normal dsn didn't want me to do the course so care with her may have been a bit awkward!
Definitely go for it if you can x
 
Sorry to butt in (I'm a T2) but shouldn't diet be discussed as the effects of a diet will have an influence so "Knowledge is Power" and you can then make the choices of what diet you follow and what the effects can be, so "A" can say "I eat "X" but only this amount per day, but not "Y" because ... and "B" can hear it and understand how he/she can tailor his/her diet.
 


No need to apologise. Not quite sure what your trying to say with the above Fergus even though I've read it several times.

As we all know diet is important in controlling diabetes but the course we are talking about on this thread is time limited, it only runs over 5 days and covers a lot of issues related to everyday living with type 1 diabetes.

However, I was just saying to a fellow type 1 only a few weeks ago that it would be good to have a days course before the commencement of DAFNE to discuss food and the impact it has on bg, knowing how funds are very limited now I can't see this happening any day soon.
 
Seems like a waste of time discussing any particular diet. The fact they teach carb counting is enough I think. There are so many different opinions on particular foods and what spikes one person won't spike the next that the whole week could be taken up discussing various foods. I do think that a general low carb diet could be promoted though as this seems to be something most of us agree on !


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I too had no time off work to do DAFNE. My diabetes nurse then wrote to HR at my work and said that it was really imprtant to my health and that the course was being carried out at the hospital. My employer ended up giving me the time off as paid leave.

i would definately do DAFNE. It will put you in control of diabetes and you will learn a huge amount. I think all diabetics should do DAFNE when diagnosed
 
Sorry to jump in but i'm totally confused as to who DAFNE courses are aimed at?? I'm type 2 & was diagnosed in.2002. My GP has referred me to go on a DAFNE Type 1 education programme!!!! This doesnt suprise me much as he hasnt a clue about diabetes in fact he's so hopeless I bypassed him and went straight to the local diabetic team at the hospital!!! It had already been proven that carb counting doesnt work for me due to other medical conditions I have so ignoring the fact that i'm type 2 not 1 is there anything in DAFNE that would warrent me pleading my case to get time off work to attend it??? HELP I'M CONFUSED!!!

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As far as I'm aware the DAFNE course is solely for type 1's, there's the X-PERT course which both type 1's and type 2's can attend:

http://www.xperthealth.org.uk/people-wi ... rt-insulin
 
Many thanks Noblehead. I'm awaiting a call back from my GP regarding my querying his letter..... Certainly not holding my breath on that one!!! Also been told to ring specialist DAFNE nursing sister but she's not available till next Monday!!! :-[

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Doing DAFNE was the best thing I ever did. I now test more, understand more about my blood sugars and how the food I eat affects my bsugars.
 
Hi - I would say definitely go along if you are able. I went on the course in May and it really was worthwhile. The carb counting was fab and my HBA1C has been lowered since completing the course. The other great aspect of it is that I met fellow diabetics and some of us have kept in touch and meet up. It was really educational and interesting. We had a laugh too! Hope this helps.
 
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