DAFNE Print Easy

Despite the DAFNE approach being proven to work in Europe, many thought that it would not work in the UK.

In 1998 a team from 3 UK diabetes units (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Northumbria Healthcare Trust and King’s College Hospital, London) travelled to Düsseldorf to observe Professor Berger’s course, to determine the suitability for the UK healthcare setting. They concluded that such a programme would be suitable for UK patients and decided to develop it for use in this country.

In 1999 the UK team received funding from Diabetes UK to enable them to develop the German course - translate the German curriculum, develop specific course resources - and conduct an 18-month ‘Feasibility Study’ which commenced in February 2000.

169 adults with poorly controlled Type 1 diabetes were recruited and randomised to 1 of 2 groups. One group (‘Immediate DAFNE’) attended the 5-day DAFNE course immediately, whilst the second group (‘Delayed DAFNE’) acted as controls receiving their standard diabetes care.

After 6 months the 2 groups were compared for a range of biomedical and psychological measures. The Delayed DAFNE group then completed a DAFNE course.

After a further 6 months the 2 groups were once again compared using the same biomedical and psychological measures.

The results (published in the British Medical Journal in October 2002) [11] revealed that the 5-day DAFNE course improved blood glucose control, quality of life and treatment satisfaction.

If you are interested in reading a full account of the DAFNE trial you can view the paper on the BMJ website

"Together, DAFNE and I are delivering the best results in diabetic care I've experienced in 25 years"


	The DAFNE Trial Despite the DAFNE approach being proven to work in Europe, many thought that it would not work in the UK. In 1998 a team from 3 UK diabetes units (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Northumbria Healthcare Trust and King’s College Hospital, London) travelled to Düsseldorf to observe Professor Berger’s course, to determine the suitability for the UK healthcare setting. They concluded that such a programme would be suitable for UK patients and decided to develop it for use in this country. In 1999 the UK team received funding from Diabetes UK to enable them to develop the German course - translate the German curriculum, develop specific course resources - and conduct an 18-month ‘Feasibility Study’ which commenced in February 2000. 169 adults with poorly controlled Type 1 diabetes were recruited and randomised to 1 of 2 groups. One group (‘Immediate DAFNE’) attended the 5-day DAFNE course immediately, whilst the second group (‘Delayed DAFNE’) acted as controls receiving their standard diabetes care. After 6 months the 2 groups were compared for a range of biomedical and psychological measures. The Delayed DAFNE group then completed a DAFNE course. After a further 6 months the 2 groups were once again compared using the same biomedical and psychological measures. The results (published in the British Medical Journal in October 2002) [11] revealed that the 5-day DAFNE course improved blood glucose control, quality of life and treatment satisfaction. If you are interested in reading a full account of the DAFNE trial you can view the paper on the BMJ website "Together, DAFNE and I are delivering the best results in diabetic care I've experienced in 25 years"