Dr Simon Heller
Professor of Clinical Diabetes and Honorary Consultant Physician
21.07.2025
“I have been involved in the DAFNE programme from 1995 when I and Sue Roberts from North Tyneside decided to travel to Dusseldorf to see for ourselves what Michael Berger and Ingrid Muhlhauser had developed in Germany since the 1980s. They had the wisdom to use blood glucose monitoring to show how with this information, plus education and training for adults with type 1 diabetes could equip them with skills of self-management and show how lay people with the condition could achieve glucose levels far better than relying on health professionals as well as improving their quality of life. With funding from Diabetes UK we then ran a trial to prove that such an approach could be as successful in the UK.
The results of this trial and its publication in the BMJ in 2002 transformed the care of diabetes across the country and roll out of DAFNE showed how patients could become their own experts with low costs but high-quality training in self-management. Many people with lived experience will tell you that participation in a DAFNE course is life changing and is probably the most important step they can take in helping them manage their own condition. It allows them for the first time to put them in charge of managing their own condition.”
Dr Ma Pyeh Kyithar
DAFNE doctor
02.07.2025
“As a DAFNE doctor, I can help and support people living with T1D with evidence-based research.
The DAFNE programme helps people with T1D to self-manage diabetes with confidence.”
Dr Isaac Chua
DAFNE doctor
28.07.25
“Becoming a DAFNE Doctor has deepened my understanding of patients living with Type 1 Diabetes and the role I can play in contributing to patient-centred care – not only in empowering patients to confidently self-manage but to also promote DAFNE amongst colleagues which would further standardise patient care.”
Cathy Breen
Dr Cathy Breen, Clinical Specialist Dietitian in Obesity and Diabetes
Interim Dietetic Lead – Diabetes National Clinical Programme, Republic of Ireland
28.07.25
“For me one of the big benefits with DAFNE is embedding the philosophy, beliefs and values of patient-centred care in diabetes services. DAFNE formally trains us in how to promote autonomy, competency and confidence among people living with Type 1 diabetes in the management of their condition. The training teaches us as DAFNE Educators and Doctors about how to explore values and barriers, provide honest and accurate information about risks, share decision making and give non-judgmental support regardless of the decisions participants make. I hear people talk about the ‘DAFNE Rules’ but actually they’re flexible principles and algorithms, and the more important part, in my opinion, is the skills and problem solving training to help people make informed decisions and develop health related resilience with the onerous disease that is Type 1! It’s literally the opposite of paternalistic – I wish more people knew that about DAFNE!”
Liz Quinn
DAFNE educator
17.07.2025
“I first observed a DAFNE course around 2009 after having already being a Diabetes Specialist Dietitian for 3 years, I learned more on that 5-day course than all my diabetes tutorials at university and what I had learned on the job. I think the educators I observed must have been very amused with how many questions I had at the end of each day! The then-new approach of trusting attendees to adjust their own insulin was a big shock at first, and it was fantastic to see how the group supported each other. The first few courses I delivered I didn’t sleep worrying about the attendees trusting us with sometimes huge changes in their insulin regimes, but in all these years, it has always been a safe approach, thanks to all the research and evidence base behind what we do. Even after delivering DAFNE now for 15 years, I still love spending time with the attendees, seeing the support and the understanding develop, and I learn something from them every single time, and I feel that makes me a better Health Professional.”
Louise Walker
NHS Diabetes Specialist Dietitian and DAFNE educator
16.07.25
“DAFNE programmes are one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. The positive impact on people with diabetes is clear within a few days of the MDI & Pump courses and being part of their journey is a privilege.
Helping to empower our patients to self-manage their condition is core to our professional role and DAFNE provides participants with guiding principles and the confidence to trial different strategies, with support from peers & DAFNE Educators. All participants get something from DAFNE, even if this isn’t always what we would expect.
The DAFNE Educator training also provides us as health care professionals with credibility & confidence due to the rigorous research behind DAFNE, excellent resources, and the ongoing audit and quality assurance. Being part of a DAFNE Centre also offers the opportunity for free CPD via study days, webinars. DAFNE is constantly evolving & responding to changes in clinical practice eg. face-to-face and remote, Hybrid Closed Loop, and the development of the new Type 2 VICTOR programme.
With this enthusiasm for the DAFNE programmes, I applied and was accepted as a part-time National DAFNE Trainer and now deliver DAFNE Educator training and the DAFNE Doctor workshops, working with the DAFNE Central Team. I would recommend this to any experienced DAFNE Educator who is convinced of the benefits of continuing to provide our patients with validated structured education.”
Prinith de Alwis Jayasinghe
Diabetes Dietitian and DAFNE / VICTOR educator
11.07.2025
“My VICTOR educator training has impacted my whole role, thinking about the language I use, avoiding diabetes stigma, using a weight neutral approach, focusing on behaviours, not numbers on the scales.”
Harold Fernandez
Diabetes Specialist Nurse and DAFNE educator
14.07.2025
“We have just completed our very first DAFNE course, and I feel a deep sense of fulfilment as an educator. Hearing from participants about the positive changes they have made since starting the program — from improved diabetes management to feeling more in control of their condition — has been truly rewarding. Their gratitude reaffirmed my commitment to this work and reminded me why I do what I do. Knowing that I have contributed, even in a small way, to improving someone’s quality of life was incredibly moving”.
DAFNE Doctor Paul Lambert, Diabetes Specialist Nurses Abbie Littlejohns, Blanca Caloyloy, Diabetes Specialist Dietitians Claire Foster and Elizabeth Paxton and DAFNE administrator Paul Elkerton.
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Specialist Diabetes Team
17.07.2025
“The team in Somerset wish DAFNE a very Happy 25th Birthday. We feel privileged to have been part of the DAFNE Collaborative since 2006 and have delivered courses to around 1000 people with Type 1 Diabetes in the county. As educators DAFNE gives us a huge amount of job satisfaction, when else do you get told how knowledgeable you are or what a fantastic team you make! We enjoy building relationships over the week-long face to face course and remotely over Microsoft Teams. What we hope is that the participants can gain a better understanding of their diabetes and the confidence to self-manage successfully.
Anon patient testimonial: The course has taught me so much, my outlook on T1 has changed massively. I’m confident, I know what I’m doing, hopefully will change my life! Thank you Ladies – You are all AMAZING!’
Anon patient testimonial: I feel that I have gained so much from the course and I particularly appreciated feeling safe enough to share thoughts and experiences on the weekly calls. I was a little apprehensive before starting the course and I felt a little anxious about sharing and asking specific questions, but the educators’ delightful, warm, professional approach to each session made sharing easy.”
Laura Jones
Service Lead, Diabetes Specialist Dietitian and DAFNE educator
17.07.2025
“I am a DAFNE remote and DAFNE face to face educator.
DAFNE is a structured education programme to help individuals with the management of Type 1 Diabetes. DAFNE has huge clinical benefits in relation to improving Hba1c levels, reducing the frequency of hypoglycaemia occurrences as well as DKA admissions to hospitals. This is achieved through the comprehensive information provided to individuals in a patient centred way to promote self-management. Dafne produce excellent supporting resources both in hard copy and digitally to help support the complex information given.
The best thing about DAFNE and being a DAFNE educator is bringing the Type 1 diabetes community together in a supportive environment where people can meet other people with Type 1 Diabetes and share their experiences / challenges / tips living with Type 1 Diabetes. It fosters lifelong relationships, builds a community and reduces the feeling of isolation and being alone.
DAFNE does not only support our clinical goals but improves quality of life and reduces diabetes distress in this cohort and therefore is the reason we believe every individual with Type 1 Diabetes should have the opportunity to access this course and receive all the multiple benefits it has to offer.”
Nirvana Ward
Diabetes Specialist Dietitian and DAFNE educator
15.07.2025
“It’s a privilege supporting DAFNE participants—witnessing meaningful results as they gain confidence to live their chosen lifestyle. Every course celebrates individuality, and we all learn something new together.”
Helen Rogers
Diabetes Specialist Nurse and DAFNE educator
21.07.2025
“Being one of the facilitators on a DAFNE course is one of the very favourite parts of my job. To have that time to get to know the people on the course, and to learn from them, and see them learn from each other is great to see and be a part of.
I know that it’s a real relief for a lot of people with T1 to be able to discuss things with others with diabetes and have those ‘oh you experience that too’ moments. We need to know we’re not alone with our experiences. I find it really helpful to be a facilitator with many years of experience, because I can bring that experience to the group, and say ‘others have tried it this way and it seemed to work for them’.
It’s also good to be able to be a sounding board for the frustrations with people with T1 diabetes experience. DAFNE allows time to express these. It seems to me that it is a foundational part of learning when one has T1 diabetes and one is an educator, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Gurjeet Chana
Community Diabetes Dietitian and DAFNE educator
16.07.2025
“DAFNE knowledge has significantly empowered me to guide patients in effectively managing their diabetes. Through education, support, and practical strategies, patients are equipped to take control of their condition, improving their overall health and quality of life”.
Anita Sturgess
DAFNE Lead Educator, Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board
15.7.2025
“We have been running DAFNE courses in Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board for more than 10 years. I have seen huge benefits for both staff and patients from being a DAFNE Centre and running regular courses for people living with Type 1 Diabetes. Speaking as a dietitian specialising in diabetes I have thoroughly enjoyed training to be a DAFNE educator and regularly running courses. My knowledge and skill set have greatly improved, and I think that DAFNE courses are very helpful and often life changing for those who attend them.
The content of DAFNE courses is excellent and it is regularly updated and modified in line with research. The training provided to HCP is very vigorous and helpful not only for running courses but in day-to-day clinical work also. DAFNE produces excellent resources to be used in the courses and has adapted to also provide online information to support the remote courses. We run 3 types of DAFNE courses here: standard face to face, 5X1 face to face and remote. It is good to be able to offer a choice of courses.
We regularly receive very positive feedback from people who have attended courses informing us that their lives have changed for the better and we have also had feedback from their partners to thank us for helping change not only the lives of the person with type 1 Diabetes but also their loved ones!”
Mandy Stock
Diabetes Dietitian and DAFNE educator
27.06.2025
“My favourite part of DAFNE delivery is seeing participants grow in confidence, knowledge and skill during the course.”
Carla Gianfrancesco
Diabetes Specialist Dietitian
29.10.2025
“In 1998 I was asked to go to Dusseldorf to observe a course run in Germany for people with Type 1 Diabetes along with a group of HCPs from Sheffield, North Tyneside and Kings College London. We went on to become the DAFNE study group and developed this course for the UK and ran it as part of a RCT. I was the sole Diabetes Specialist Dietitian in Sheffield at the time. I delivered our first course with 3 DSN colleagues. I remember nervously asking participants to change their hypo treatment to the DAFNE advice. Would it work? Would they ever trust us again? What a relief to find out it worked. The participants needed no more convincing! We loved it from then and never looked back.
An enjoyable thing about delivering DAFNE is that every course is completely different and you are constantly learning and evolving as a clinician. It makes coming to work fun! The very best thing is getting an insight into the lives of the people on the course. We are constantly reminded of the hard work that goes into managing diabetes on multiple daily injections and during every course I am in awe of how much people juggle in their lives. It is important to have this regular reminder. It makes us better clinicians. Many of us delivering DAFNE don’t have diabetes, but I feel working so closely with people helps us provide more compassionate care, despite this.
DAFNE has done an amazing job to evolve over the years to continue to meet the needs of people with Type 1 diabetes and train HCP about managing Type 1 diabetes. There really is not much else out there that is available nationally. So the impact it has had on the Type 1 Diabetes care nationally is absolutely massive. The quality of DAFNE research is world class and so much has been learnt, not just about diabetes but about managing chronic health conditions and developing, delivering and evaluating structured education programmes. Again, just thinking about the impact it has had across the globe is mind blowing.
Happy 25th Birthday DAFNE. What can I say? My life and career are very fulfilled for having you in it ! Thank you for enabling me to deliver the best care I can to people with Type 1 diabetes in Sheffield and for being able to influence diabetes care for the better across the UK.”