Structured education is now seen as part of routine diabetes care. The government recommends that everyone with diabetes should have access to this type of structured education through the NHS. You may need to take time off work to do the course. However we can provide a letter of explanation for your employer.
DAFNE Stands for Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE)
It’s a way of managing your diabetes by working out how much insulin you need to take for what you want to eat.
The Leicester DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) Programme commenced in June 2002, and around 800 people with Type 1 Diabetes have benefited from attending a one week course. The course provides a structured education on living with Type 1 Diabetes, and how to get the best out of a basal bolus insulin regimen, being based on carbohydrate counting and variable insulin dosing.
BENEFITS OF DAFNE include:
long-term improved diabetes control
a more than halving of severe hypoglycaemia
substantial weight loss in some people
improved well-being
treatment satisfaction
Download the DAFNE Patient information leaflet DAFNE allows people to fit diabetes into their lifestyle, rather than changing their lifestyle to fit in with their diabetes.
DAFNE COURSES
The UHL DAFNE Team have run 18 courses per year over recent years, in both Leicester City, and the County, and regular courses are run at the Braunstone Centre, as well as at The Leicester Hospitals.
WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?
Attend a 5 day training course (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday). With around 7 other people with type 1 diabetes
A follow up session around 8 weeks after the course
Yearly half day top up sessions. It is by invitation only, so please speak to you diabetes team. (Or referral via your GP)
TOPICS COVERED
The structured teaching programme covers topics including:
Exercise DAFNE is recognised by NICE as the gold standard education programme for people with Type 1 Diabetes, and locally we encourage people to attend a course at the end of the ‘honeymoon phase’, which is usually about one year post initial diagnosis.
TRAINING METHOD
The DAFNE course is about learning from experience. During the week you practice the skills of carbohydrate estimation and Insulin adjustment under the supervision of DAFNE- trained nurses and dietitians. Most of the training is built around group work, sharing and comparing experiences with other people with Type 1 diabetes. However, there are opportunities for each person to speak to a doctor, nurse or dietitian individually.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE DAFNE PROGRAMME? If you
have Type 1 Diabetes for at least 6 months
are over 17 years of age
have a HbA1C less than 12%
wish to improve diabetes control
are willing to inject and test at least 5 times a day
able to attend a 5 day course
If you are eligible and are interested for details contact Liz Turrell (contact below) alternatively speak to a member of your diabetes team for a referral. You will then be sent an invite.
There are Information evenings held throughout the year. Download the DAFNE DATES for 2010 ( includes refresher sessions and Healthcare Awareness Dates
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Liz Turrell Diabetes and Education Support Administrator Diabetes and Endocrinology Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester, LE1 5WW Tel: 0116 258 5158
DAFNE IN LEICESTER
DAFNE Educators deliver new onset Type 1 Diabetes group sessions for people recently diagnosed. Over the past 8 years, the management of Type 1 Diabetes has been transformed in Leicester by the development of the DAFNE Programme, and the feedback from graduates has been overwhelmingly positive.
Are you DAFNE aware? If you are a Healthcare Professional we run courses so that you can find out how well patients become empowered and how to respond to their questions. HCP Training Details
DAFNE factsheet PDF (410KB)