My experience of the local course was not good.. it took eight months to get on one, as they kept trying to put me on day time ones, despite my patient requests for a Saturday.
By the time I finally got one I'd got myself well in hand, had got my Hba1c from 140 to 57 within three months, my weight down a good 40lbs since diagnosis, and had had a significant amount of training at work as I deal with students with T1 diabetes. Whilst that training was aimed at what I did with others, it was really useful personally as well.
I knew during the introductory 10 minutes it was likely to be a waste of time. When they were insisting I needed to fill in an incredibly intrusive form and be weighed, have BMI calculated and have blood pressure checked "For our records", I refused to co-operate and walked out. There was an attempt to get me to stay, but ultimately the trainer had to admit from what I reeled off to him about what I'd already learnt, I wasn't going to learn anything that day.
"But, you could be such an encouragement to others." was the last attempt to get me to stay. I'm afraid, I glared, pointed out if I'd given up my one free day a week, I was giving it up for my benefit, not other peoples, and stated I would take the consequences for not attending.
I was more proud of myself for not hitting the chocolate to cheer myself up!
So, um, I've not actually done one really.