I rang St Vincent's today to find out how to get on a DAFNE course and the nurse at the Diabetic Clinic explained that I would need to switch to a public consultant there (approximately 8 month wait for an appointment) and then apply for DAFNE (up to 18 months) It seems like a long time but a friend of mine who's studying medicine at RCSI says that the results are worth it. Apparently they also offer it Beaumont.

[graflynn]

There is lots more info on DAFNE on http://www.dafne.uk.com/scripts/type...afnetoday.html including the list of centres who provide it in Ireland.

You do have to be a public patient and it's free to attend. You may have to take 5 days holidays for it though but on the up-side, you should only need to attend your clinic on an annual basis once you've completed it.

[tbh]

Originally Posted by MrGSynergy

I completed the DAFNE course in UCHG 3 years ago.

Since then, my lifestuyle has changed, my eating habits have changed, I lost 15 kg and my Hba1c went from 9ish to 6.7 last week.

I'd recommend it without hesitation to all type 1 diabetics

Hi Folks -

Firstly, I've merged two threads on DAFNE, so apologies if things are a little confusing if you're reading through for the first time.

Anyway, to echo what Mr G says above - I did the DAFNE course in St. Vincents last week, and it has changed my life as much as my initial diagnosis did.
Even in the last week my bloods are perfect, I've gone from about 70 units of insulin a day (40 lantus + ~30 NovaRapid) to about 30 (20 Lantus and 15 NovaRapid) I'm eating WAY better and I feel far more positive about having diabeties and my prospects.
The course covers carb counting and insulin adjustment, there's a doctor session where you can ask all those questions you always wanted to, they talk about dealing with alchohol, exercise, social aspects, setting goals etc.

The staff in vincents were superb and I couldn't recommend this course enough. Just checked my bloods - 5.8

[tbh]

for the interested, here's an idea of the DAFNE course I did. Now, I have to say that one of the things they ask you on the course is not to try and teach it yourself to other diabetics. It's nothing you don't know anyway, and it's certainly not a secret, but the rule is their call and that's good enough for me. So for that reason I don't intend to paste large passages of text or anything, or give advice about what to do -but again, I really suggest that you get on the waiting list for this.

Day 1:
introduction / what is diabetes / identify carbohydrates / dafne diary / diabetes target and control / nutrition / blood glucose checking and discussion

day 2:
Bloods results discussion / how insulin works / insulin adjustment / nutrition / food labelling / bloods results discussion

day 3:
bloods results discussion / managing exercise / snacking / bloods results discussion / hypo session (with partners)

day 4:
bloods results discussion / alcohol / sick day rules / Dr. session (IAMA Diabetes doctor in st vincents, AMA) / goal setting / bloods results discussion

day 5:
bloods results discussion / dining out / healthy eating / social aspects / quiz / action planning / evaluation

the bloods results discussion was just that - you show your blood results on an overhead projector and the group discusses them. It's brilliant, really.

My favourite part was the doctor AMA (ask me anything for the non-redditors) - one of the doctors explained what they are checking for in the yearly exams, talked about the complications, honestly, answered any questions that people had asked (you could also ask anonymously through post-it notes, great idea)

Every day at lunch we discussed what we were eating with the nutritionalist, and she helped us figure out how many CPs were there.

I had one wobble since I came out for a couple of days where I suddenly needed more BI, but I'd say for the last 10 days straight, I haven't had a reading over 10. That's actually a big deal for me, and it really didn't take an awful lot of work to get it - literally 10 mins of each day total.

I really do urge people to try and get a place on one of these courses - you'd imaging they are going to become increasingly rare, unfortunately.

[CathyMoran]

I would prefer an online course as I really do not have the time. Anyone know of an online DAFNE?

[tbh]

Originally Posted by CathyMoran

I would prefer an online course as I really do not have the time. Anyone know of an online DAFNE?

there's a DAFNE online site, but you need to have a graduate code to get in. It's not suited to online delivery tbh, lots of practical sessions.

[CathyMoran]

Originally Posted by tbh

there's a DAFNE online site, but you need to have a graduate code to get in. It's not suited to online delivery tbh, lots of practical sessions.

Thanks, that is a pity, at the moment I am a full time mother and baby incubator and my husband is saving his holidays for maternity appointments and for his seriously ill ill mother and we have no family support so it looks like I will never get to do it. I think that I am slowly coming around to the idea of needing a pump (it has been suggested to me for years) and I imagine that I would need the course before hand.

[airlie]

Hi Cathy

This website may be helpful. www.bdec-e-learning.com


Regards,
Airlie

[tbh]

yah, that looks good Airlie, nice one

[tbh]

[eilo1]

Hi Guys!

I did DAFNE in Loughlinstown in 2007 and thought it was very educational and helpful.

Just a note to Cathy though, the waiting list to get on a DAFNE course can be quiet long so even if you have no time at the minute it might be worth putting your name on a list for the future.