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EXPERT course

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vince13

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1.5 LADA
Has anyone been on, or know anything about, these courses ? Following my initial contact with the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist she suggested I get in touch with one run in my area but if they are as much use as I found the DESMOND when I was first diagnosed, I think I'll pass. Any ideas please ?
 
I did the online one when it first started and it was quite useful. I have yet to find one that fits in with my working hours. I work 7.am till 3.30pm The courses usually run 10.30 till 1pm. By the time I'd done it had lunch and got into work it would have used up too much of my working day.

Hubby is starting the Pain Management course on Friday, so I can give you a better idea of what that is like after that. I think there are a few people who have done the one for long term medical conditions.

I did the Xpert Diabetes course, which while I enjoyed meeting others in the same position as me, it didn't actually tell me anything I didn't already know.

Personally when the opportunity comes up to do this kind of thing I take it. The least that will happen is I'll meet some interesting people and any thing learned or new friends is an added bonus
 
Hi Faith I know of at least 3 of us who did the x-pert course me andy and caroline, Personally I found it really useful it helped alot I may not of get any freinds out of it as the people there were far beyond my age, but whe i did it over a year ago i was preety clueless but after the course i came out knowing a whole lot more.I have found the thread I did back in jan 10 where i spoke about each of the sessions,have a look if you want x http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5596
 
As Steffie says, I did go an the Xpert course immediately after I was diagnosed and I found it extremely useful at that time.

However, I suspect that I would not want to attend it now. I doubt it could tell me anything that I don't already know. I suspect that you probably know more than it could offer too (maybe).

On the other hand is does provide an opportunity to talk directly with others and medical staff about the condition in a more relaxed way. It'll give you time to ask the questions you may have and hopefully get some sensible and considered answers.

Andy 🙂
 
As you are a Type 1.5 I would have thought that DAFNE would be more relevant, unless this particular Xpert course is one aimed at Type 1 insulin users. Might be worth finding out more details of what the course schedule is and how it compares to DAFNE. If it is the straightforward Type 2 course I can imagine a lot of it would be of little interest to you, especially as your personal experiences with diabetes have been very much out of the ordinary (being the special type you are 😉)
 
You'd need to look on the website, I think there is something on offer for anyone who is insulin dependent.

I'd suggest going with an open mind. The course I wnet on didn't tell me anything I didn't already know but it was nice to talk to others who are in the same position as me
 
I'll give them a ring and see what the course is aimed at but I've learnt so much from the "experts" on here and I don't warm to the idea of being sat with other diabetics in the area and chat face to face. I also get brilliant support from my surgery and the hospital for any specific queries I have.

I'm on the waiting list to go on a DAPHNE course but was told I had to be on insulin for a year before they would consider moving me up the list. Wouldn't I have to be on MDI for that though as I can't really do any adjustment myself for what I'm eating as I only inject before breakfast and before evening meal ?

BTW I'm not "special" Alan - they are now saying I'm Type 1 with no comment on the 1.5 which I seem to have left behind ! :D
 
You'll always be special to us Faith! 🙂 I imagine by the time you get a place on a DAFNE course you will be on MDI. I also imagine there is a long waiting list, so they should possibly put you down for one now. Have they discussed MDI with you yet? What are your thoughts on it, having been on insulin for a while now? I know you're not too happy with injecting, and that it would mean more.
 
I have just completed an expert course, by the time one was available I had already done much personal research, particularly with the help of this forum so there were times when I thought I was hearing things at a fairly basic level which I knew already. Common sense has always advised me that, even if you think you know all you need to, it still might be worth listening and you could learn something helpful or gain from sharing views and ideas in a group. Sometimes I disagreed with the advice, the dietary advice is sound but simple, and the time spent on any item very much depends on the mix of the group attending as to how relevant it is to your own situation.
My view would be to go, it is free and you may learn something useful, however I suspect it is much more useful for diabetics who are not doing their own research on forums such as this.
 
BTW I'm not "special" Alan - they are now saying I'm Type 1 with no comment on the 1.5 which I seem to have left behind ! :D

Hi Ther,

Type 1.5 doesn't really exist as a real medical term, its just a jokey description coined on the Internet for slow onset Type 1.
X-pert Diabetes course is for Type 2s, the answer to DAFNE, but the coursebook might be useful.
 
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BTW I'm not "special" Alan - they are now saying I'm Type 1 with no comment on the 1.5 which I seem to have left behind ! :D

You are special, everyone here is special and we are all unique and I appreciate you being here.
 
Hi Ther,

Type 1.5 doesn't really exist as a real medical term, its just a jokey description coined on the Internet for slow onset Type 1.
X-pert Diabetes course is for Type 2s, the answer to DAFNE, but the coursebook might be useful.

OK. LADA then 🙄
 
You'll always be special to us Faith! 🙂 I imagine by the time you get a place on a DAFNE course you will be on MDI. I also imagine there is a long waiting list, so they should possibly put you down for one now. Have they discussed MDI with you yet? What are your thoughts on it, having been on insulin for a while now? I know you're not too happy with injecting, and that it would mean more.

They haven't pushed MDI yet. I don't still want to go that step further yet for 2 reasons:
1) I am now only able to use my tummy for injections as I bleed/bruise badly on my thighs and at 8stone my tummy area for injecting isn't that large either and it often hurts me when I inject so more injections are a real turn-off for me and
2) until I understand a little more about the carb/injection ratio I don't know whether (with my present frame of mind) I could work ratios out, maths never having been my strong point.

Thanks for the "special remarks" everyone but I don't feel that special at present - just a real pain in the ****.
 
I know what you mean about the calculations - the InsulinCalculator app (in conjunction with DiabetesDiary) solved all this for me as once your ratios are in it calculates it all for you - if that's what's putting you of don't panic, you can do it! The Expert meter does it too - I'm sure others will tell you more examples
 
I know what you mean about the calculations - the InsulinCalculator app (in conjunction with DiabetesDiary) solved all this for me as once your ratios are in it calculates it all for you - if that's what's putting you of don't panic, you can do it! The Expert meter does it too - I'm sure others will tell you more examples

Does that apply to a mobile phone app ? 'cos mine is a real old thing (like me !). I think the Carbs and Calories book (which I do have) will be more use to me, but thanks for your reassurance.🙂
 
Does that apply to a mobile phone app ? 'cos mine is a real old thing (like me !). I think the Carbs and Calories book (which I do have) will be more use to me, but thanks for your reassurance.🙂

If you do decide to go for MDI, but the maths/juggling is a real turn-off heasandford's right - there are all sorts of gizmos available to help out these days... The Expert meter (and one other I think, but cant remember which) allow you to put in your estimate of carbs and will then suggest a dose based on the settings you have provided for that time of day (insulin ratio/sensitivity, level of exercise, stress etc etc). Takes an awful lot of the number-crunching and guesswork out of the equation!

Other insulin calculator thinghies are available for iPhone/iPod touch, though from the sounds of it your mobile may not be up to the task 😱

I am a bit of an MDI advocate (probably cos I found 2 a day SO hard to manage) so I am probably a bit biased!

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Thank you for your very positive comments. I'll have to go down the MDI route eventually I guess but the 2 injections per day suit my lifestyle at present. Just for your information, I inject Humalog 25/75 mix 7 units at breakfast and 8 units before evening meal so I'm managing on a very small dose at present. My morning levels are now in the low-to-mid 6s so everyone's happy with me staying at that.
 
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can someone let me know what EXPERT is? Is is descriptive, or does it stand for something? think I am getting confused!!
thanks 🙂
 
I am confused now there was an X-Pert course aimed at people with type 2.

Here is the page from Diabetes UK

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Professi...tructured-Education-for-people-with-Diabetes/

Then there is the Expert Patient programme - aimed at people with chronic conditions but they appear to have developed a course called x-pert diabetes.

http://www.expertpatients.co.uk/course-participants/courses/x-pert-diabetes

It all seems set up to confuse unless the original programme has now become part of the Expert Patients Programme.
 
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