Why ?

If you can't make it, they can't force you.
Hana

SueR said:

Partner and I have been invited to attend a DESMOND course, I have no problems with this but have to ask: Why are they putting pressure on us to do it now ?

We were asked to attend the day before going away on a 10 day holiday - for us that's usually 6 hours towing a caravan, so I politely declined. Whilst on holiday they contacted us again asking us to attend this week - again 3 days after returning home. I feel really angry that so much pressure is being put on to us. Holiday's should be just that, a break away from everything and to disturb us whilst we were away is annoying.

I feel that I am being harassed, I will attend the course, but at a time when it fits in with me and not before.

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Hi Sue,if they contact you again, tell them you feel as though you are being harassed or pressurised. You could also point out that the course is important to you both and you are both very busy and you have just come back from a much needed holiday.

To be honest it's probably a case of numbers, putting bottoms on seats and making sure the course is filled up with the required quota of people. :wink:

I had my details through for the course with dates and I am not sure if I want to go, the leaflet sounds like I am going on a "get ready for death course" and the form to fill in sounds like I am meant to be depressed and suicidal. I don't feel this course is going to benefit me. This forum has been more than helpful.

SueR said:

Partner and I have been invited to attend a DESMOND course, I have no problems with this but have to ask: Why are they putting pressure on us to do it now ?

We were asked to attend the day before going away on a 10 day holiday - for us that's usually 6 hours towing a caravan, so I politely declined. Whilst on holiday they contacted us again asking us to attend this week - again 3 days after returning home. I feel really angry that so much pressure is being put on to us. Holiday's should be just that, a break away from everything and to disturb us whilst we were away is annoying.

I feel that I am being harassed, I will attend the course, but at a time when it fits in with me and not before.

Click to expand...

Hi Sue

Hope you are keeping well now and had a good holiday. Re the course, I have a sneaky feeling it could be because of the lack of availability of these courses, places for DESMOND, at least in my neck of the woods are hard to come by.
It was mentioned to me after diagnosis but they expected me to give two full days to it - impossible when I was a full time carer for my daughter. Knowing what I know now I'm glad I didn't go! Maybe ask them when they next call why are they pushing so hard for you to go? See what the response is.

Just attended one. the girls who do the course would not be allowed to carry on if less attended so bums on seats is very important. They mean no harm and do advocate empowering yourself and not allowing bullying by surgeries. They did have no objection to testing with meters on mine. They accepted that certain foods they were advocating on the low fat low calorie diet they pushed would not be good for everyone's BS and if they could not test because of lack of equipment it would be difficult to tell exactly - they pushed urinary test strips - which they said would show a real problem if it exists. I did say at that level it would be pretty frightening for a t2 to be up at 10s as a usual thing and they would be giving themseleves a lot of future problems. I think reviewing the whole thing they are looking for people in trouble and depressed people and out of control people. This course is useful, some on mine really were in the complete dark, I think DESMOND should put themselves up as a first step - not the whole deal, and then advocate a bit of your own research to take it further if you want to. They plugged Diabetes UK which when you read the website is neither here nor there really it hovers around giving real hard advice and says just enough to give you hints about what is really good for you - presumably so as not to upset you. Whatever we say you cannot force people who prefer not to know or not to care to do so. No it was not depressing on the course but yes they make you face up to complications if you do not do anything. Sensible advice but very low key. For me I did not really learn anything except a bit of anatomy but for a lot in that room it was enlightenment. The WRVS supplied the tea and coffee maybe the digestive biscuits could have been better thought out!!

I have never been offered any sort of course, I would be happy to go on one but there are not many places in my PCT area and they go to the more important cases than me I suspect.

H