Diabetes program continues to improve quality of life
30 January 2007

The Eye & Ear’s Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) program, now in its third year, continues to change the lives of hospital patients with diabetes.

DAFNE is an intensive 5-day group education program that provides a unique method of management by matching the insulin taken to what the person with diabetes wants to eat. This differs greatly from traditional methods of managing diabetes that adapt the timing and content of the meals to a more fixed dose of insulin. Adult learning and self management principles are used throughout the program to build confidence and patient autonomy.

Hospital Director of Surgical Services Marc Foley said Hospital Diabetes Project Coordinator, Tracy Orr, and Dietitian, Dianne Harvey were to be congratulated on the fantastic program. “The course is receiving rave reviews by those who have completed it, and preliminary results are showing significant improvements in patients’ quality of life,” Marc said.

The hospital was one of the first organisation’s in Australia to implement the European program. Developed in Germany, DAFNE has achieved significant results in improving the quality of life of diabetics in Europe. The DCCT (Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, 1997) shows that reducing HbA1c by 1% reduces the risk of diabetic retinopathy by 34%.The Hospital’s Diabetes Project Coordinator and Dietitian were among the first educators in Australia to achieve accreditation for DAFNE educator status.

Feedback from patients has been overwhelmingly positive. One patient said “I now feel there is more meaning to blood testing.” Another gave the feedback “I can now match insulin with the amount of food eaten to help prevent high sugar levels and hypos.” Patients attend six monthly review sessions and requested DAFNE sessions for their families to assist and support in the maintenance necessary for managing their diabetes. Two DAFNE programs are run each year with a maximum of eight participants. The first session of the DAFNE program for 2007 will be held at the hospital from 26 March. For further information go to www.dafne.org.au or contact the Hospital Diabetes Project Coordinator Tracy Orr on 03 9929 8666. Top

From left Tracy and Dianne teach participants about Digestion