Our resource hub is home to a wealth of articles, stories and videos about managing and living with type 1 diabetes.
Place your order for our free information packs that support adults and children who have been recently diagnosed.
Our researchers are working on different ways to develop a cure for type 1 diabetes - from growing insulin-producing beta cells in labs to hacking the immune system.
Learn about the technologies that can deliver insulin automatically when needed. And discover the next generation of insulins that are currently being developed.
You could win a cash prize of up to £25,000 when you play the Breakthrough T1D lottery. As well as the chance to win great prizes, you’ll also help fund our research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.
Choose from a selection of modern and traditional designs in single or twin packs to support type 1 diabetes research this Christmas. Shop online and get fast delivery.
The announcement is the biggest treatment breakthrough for type 1 diabetes since the discovery of insulin.
This World Diabetes Day, we’re inviting you to celebrate by wearing your most joyful, whimsical and downright wonderful outfits.
We provide a wealth of information and free resources to help you support and empower your patients or students.
Take our free course for schools to learn more about supporting pupils with type 1 diabetes in educational settings.
JDRF has now rebranded to Breakthrough T1D. Our name has changed, our mission has not.
Home > Knowledge & support > Managing type 1 diabetes > Type 1 diabetes courses and education
There are courses and education resources that can help you manage your type 1 diabetes. Whether you’re newly diagnosed and learning to manage type 1 or have lived with it for some time and feel in need of a refresher, these courses and self-learning programmes can help you manage your type 1.
DAFNE (Dosage Adjustment For Normal Eating) is an opportunity to learn, try new things under supervision, and connect with other people living with type 1. The course aims to help you learn how to manage your type 1 diabetes so that type 1 doesn’t get in the way of the things you want to do.
DAFNE covers things like carb counting, insulin dosing and blood glucose management, but also how you manage your type 1 around things like exercise, illness, and social activities.
A DAFNE course is for adults (aged 17 and over) with type 1 diabetes.
A face-to-face DAFNE course is run over five days – this can be either over one week (Monday to Friday) or spread over five weeks.
If you attend DAFNE online, it will take five weeks to complete.
Find out more on the DAFNE website and talk to your Diabetes Healthcare Team if you want to attend a DAFNE course.
The DAFNE Closed Loop Essentials (DAFNE-CLE) is a free online course to help you learn about using hybrid closed loop (HCL) technology. The course includes how HCL works, what to do when you eat and how to make sure it’s working safely. It takes four to six hours to complete online.
Speak to your Diabetes Healthcare Team if you would like to do the training.
BERTIE Diabetes (Bournemouth Type 1 Diabetes Education Programme) is a course that helps you learn how to manage your type 1 diabetes. It focuses on supporting you to achieve your own goals relating to your type 1, learning how to adjust insulin for your lifestyle (and not the other way round) and how to live a healthy life with type 1.
BERTIE Diabetes is for anyone with type 1 diabetes who is over 16 and on multiple daily injections.
In-person BERTIE Diabetes courses are currently only available at the University of Bournemouth.
You attend a six-hour group session once a week for four weeks and are encouraged to use the time in between to practice your new skills.
If you would like to join the BERTIE Diabetes course in-person, ask your GP to refer you to the Bournemouth Diabetes and Endocrine Centre (BDEC). If you are already a patient at BDEC, contact them directly. Visit the BDEC website for more information.
If you’re not able to make an in-person course, or would prefer to self-learn online, BERTIE Diabetes offers online education. BERTIE Diabetes Online covers how to manage your type 1, how type 1 affects your body and how to deal with things when they don’t go right.
There are also sections on getting to grips with data from your type 1 technology (aimed at people with type 1, carers and healthcare professionals), dealing with life changes like pregnancy, dementia and illness, and a separate section for teens and young adults.
The online course is completely free and can be completed in your own time.
Find out more and sign up on the BERTIE Diabetes website.
No. Even if you have been living with type 1 for many years, you can attend courses like DAFNE or BERTIE Diabetes. Your life might be different from how it was when you were first diagnosed, and these courses can help you personalise your type 1 management with any changes in your lifestyle or individual needs. You might also find it helpful to refresh your knowledge or learn about new ways of managing type 1.
Most employers will allow you to take time off work to attend a course, but it’s up to them whether you will need to take this as paid sick leave, paid annual leave or unpaid leave. Find out more about time off work for diabetes management.
If you’re starting on an insulin pump, some hospitals insist that you do a DAFNE course, or a similar course.
Otherwise, you don’t have to do a type 1 diabetes course, but they are recommended as a good way to learn or refresh the skills you need to manage type 1. Courses can also connect you with other people living with type 1 and allow you to get tailored help and support for your individual circumstances.
There are a number of resources available to help you manage your type 1. Here are some of our top picks:
Join us in Swansea to discover the latest developments in type 1 research, hear from experts in the field and connect with others living with type 1.
Learn about what technology is available to manage type 1 and how to access it.
Learn how to count carbs to dose your insulin.
Get some pointers about making your clinic appointments work for you.
