19
LIVING
Since then, "DAFNE has moved on," says Gill
Thompson, National director DAFNE programme, "Its
primary aim had been to provide courses for people with
type 1 diabetes train HCPs to deliver these DAFNE courses
within their diabetes service and was only accessible
via established DAFNE centres. These had staff that had
completed DAFNE Educator or DAFNE Doctor training
programmes to DAFNE standards.
"Over time, we opened the DAFNE Doctor programme
specifically for DAFNE doctors - diabetologists, specialist
registrars, or any doctor interested in training on the
topic, working in publicly funded diabetes services across
the UK Republic of Ireland and Crown Dependencies,
irrespective of whether they are from a DAFNE centre. In
addition, different courses have been developed that are
related to the core principles of the training. For example,
we now offer intensive insulin therapy and carbohydrate
counting training for diabetes specialist nurses and
dietitians from non-DAFNE diabetes services and our
latest course is about education regarding hybrid closed
loop systems.
"Over the last 25 years we have trained more than
2,700 HCPs but also over 62,000 adults living with Type
1 diabetes in the DAFNE approach. As we speak, there
are new NICE guidelines and a five-year implementation
plan regarding the uptake of hybrid closed loop systems
(HCLs) which means that there are a lot of people who
need further education about this relatively new topic."
Simplified options
Working with the Diabetes Technology Network (DTN
UK) DAFNE has now developed an online course -
DAFNE Closed Loop Essentials - to keep people safe on
HCLs as more people are moving on to this technology.
Thompson explains, "This particular course does involve
some simplified insulin adjustment and carb awareness
/counting but also what to do if the closed loop system
fails, or the person is ill and dealing with hypos.
The course includes a 20-question end of course
knowledge with randomly generated questions focused
on the main safety messages of the course. Those
that pass the knowledge check will receive a digital
badge, which they can share with their diabetes team
to demonstrate they have the required level of training
to understand what's involved in using a closed loop
system without further input from their diabetes team at
the time.
If participant's do not pass the knowledge check, there
is a checklist whereby they can record the topics they
would like more support with from their diabetes team.
The knowledge check is not a barrier to accessing a
closed loop system, just a way for individuals and their
diabetes teams to identify where further support may
be helpful, so clinical teams can target clinical input
where needed.
Over the last 25 years
we have trained more
than 2,700 HCPs but also
over 62,000 adults living
with Type 1 diabetes in
the DAFNE approach. ~
Gill Thompson
How can you access the free DAFNE Closed Loop
Essentials course? All publicly funded diabetes services
qualify to get the training and we have a target of 10,000
patients to take the course on closed loop education
before the end of March 2026.
There are currently 113 DAFNE centres at the moment,
with staff trained to deliver DAFNE courses across the full
choice of courses.
More information about the DAFNE Closed Loop
course can be found on the DAFNE website: www.dafne.
nhs.uk/CLE
Not standing still
Says Thompson, "What's also changed is the increased
number of formats of how we deliver the courses. Since
COVID we've had to offer the choice of either doing a
course entirely online, entirely face-to-face, or 'blended',
which is a bit of both. The good thing is that it gives
people choice and can fit in around their lifestyles - such
as fitting around work - and opportunities to travel."
At DAFNE, nothing stands still. Thompson explains,
"We are continually developing courses that we feel
are needed. Also coming in later this year is an insulin
adjustment and carb counting course for people with
Type 2 diabetes on multiple daily injections. The course
will be called VICTOR and will be based on DAFNE
principles but tailored to the needs of people with Type
2 diabetes, with more visual learning resources. The
VICTOR course will be piloted towards the end of 2024
and will be available only to DAFNE centres."
How do I access a course? - DAFNE