What is DAFNE?DAFNE is a five-day diabetes education program designed for adults with type 1 diabetes. Participants attend the course in groups of 6 - 8 people, and together they learn the skills that will allow them to calculate how much insulin they need for the carbohydrate-containing food they want to eat. The main principles of the DAFNE program are: - skills-based training to teach flexible insulin adjustment to match carbohydrate in a free diet on a meal-by-meal basis
- emphasis on self-management and independence from the diabetes care team
The DAFNE program covers three main areas: - Carbohydrate estimation:
This section of the program teaches participants to estimate the carbohydrate content of whatever they choose to eat and then match this with an appropriate insulin dose. Practical exercises using real food, photographs of food, food models and food packets allow participants to practice what they have learned. The nutrition topics also include snacking, estimating carbohydrates in recipes and nutritional information panels, eating out, alcohol and sweeteners.
- Insulin dose adjustment:
The DAFNE insulin regime is based on a basal/bolus regimen with food covered by quick acting insulin. Participants monitor their blood glucose levels before each main meal and before bed. This value, the results of previous blood glucose measurements, individual insulin to carbohydrate ratios at that meal time, and the quantity of the proposed intake of carbohydrate are all taken into account when calculating the appropriate insulin dose.
The DAFNE blood glucose target levels are as follows:
Pre-breakfast 5.5 - 7.5 mmol/L
Pre-lunch and pre-dinner 4.5 - 7.5 mmol/L
Pre-bed 6.5 - 8.0 mmol/L
- Other topics:
Other topics such as hypoglycaemia, exercise, illness and sick day guidelines, diabetes complications, and goal setting are covered in the DAFNE program, making it a truly comprehensive type 1 diabetes self-management program.
|
