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Offer all adults with type 1 diabetes a structured education programme of proven benefit, for example, the Scottish Type 1 Education Programme (STEP), Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating programme (DAFNE) or Bournemouth Type 1 Diabetes Education Programme (BERTIE).
There are a number of accredited structured education courses available, including, but not limited to STEP, DAFNE and BERTIE.
Ensure that any structured education programme for adults with type 1 diabetes (including carers and family members):
- is evidence based, and suits the needs of the person
- has specific aims and learning objectives, and supports the person and their family members and carers in developing attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and skills to self manage diabetes
- has a structured curriculum that is theory driven, evidence based and resource effective, and has supporting materials, and is written down
- is delivered by trained educators who:
- have an understanding of educational theory appropriate to the age and needs of the person and
- are trained and competent to deliver the principles and content of the programme
- is quality assured, and reviewed by trained, competent, independent assessors who measure it against criteria that ensure consistency
- has outcomes that are audited regularly.
Structured education programmes for people with type 1 diabetes (including carers and family members) should include the following essential topics:
- self monitoring of blood glucose
- carbohydrate counting
- insulin dose adjustment
- sick-day rules
- physical activity and diabetes
- living with diabetes, including relevant topics like travel, alcohol, sexual health and pregnancy
- how to access follow up and support, including any peer groups.
Teams should work ensure that effective education resources of proven benefit are available to people with diabetes (including carers and family members) by signposting content on the Diabetes in Scotland website. Education programmes should be in a format and mode of delivery that is suitable for the person with diabetes, such as in-person (group or one to one) or online (synchronous or asynchronous), and at times suitable for them, including outside standard working hours.
External quality assurance and audit for structured education courses, including regular internal and external evaluation of educators is desirable to ensure people with type 1 diabetes, their carers and family members are confident managing their condition after attending the structured education programme.