I have a pump, and you need to know how much carb you are eating to be able to bolus correctly. That's what the DAFNE course is about - learning the correct amount of carb in everything you eat and how much to deliver in bolus. I also have to take thyroxine (thyroid eaten by my immune system and now completely gone) and I also have Addison's Disease so have to take steroids, all of which interfere with diabetes control. I therefore have my insulin doses carefully matched to my needs. It is very important to do the DAFNE course before getting the pump in order to use it properly.
I have just this morning completed the DAFNE course 11/4/2014. You may think there is nothing to learn; that you are doing everything by the book and still cant control your bloods. Well I was one of those very same people and what you learn is how your diabetes works, I mean in depth to the degree that you actually understand what is happening in your body. If you dont know how your body reacts to situations, ie insulin, alcohol, stress and illness to name but a few, then how can you make the right adjustments.The DAFNE course is NOT about giving you grief, it is about education. You will probably have a small group (ours was 9) and the networking, ie ability to tell someone who is in the same situation about your feelings etc is fantastic. You tend to help each other by sharing your first hand experiences and they will have many different ones to yourself, but probably can relate to. Please dont blame the NHS or your doctors, get on the course, I guarantee you wont be disappointed. BTW if you still think you need a pump after the course, you will certainly have more ammunition to use to get your goal. I hope this helps you and many others who think the course would be a waste of time.
