Type 1 Diabetes Information Group (DIG) Survey 2011

Questions

1. We hope the DIG Meeting has been at a suitable time. If not please indicate what would be the most convenient day/s and time/s for you.

Participants were asked to name a day and time that suited them best for the DIG meeting. Overwhelmingly participants voted for the DIG meeting to be help at 6pm on either Mon, Tues, Wed or Thurs.

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun

6pm 80.0% (12) 88.5% (23) 85.0% (17) 92.9% (13) 71.4% (5) 18.2% (2) 16.7% (1)

2. What have you found to be of value in attending DIG meetings?

a. Being able to talk casually with others who have Type 1 diabetes b. New Product information (e.g about pumps) c. Talking with other parents of children with Type 1 diabetes d. Talking to other people whose siblings have Type 1 diabetes e. Group support and understanding f. Advice and support to help with managing Type 1 diabetes g. The chance to discuss health services and offer suggestions h. Opportunity to meet new people i. Guest speakers and presentations j. Other (Please specify) * See Appendix A

Percentage 87.90% 51.50% 9.10% 6.10% 57.6% 57.6% 60.6% 48.50% 78.80% 12.10%

3. Have you found the presentation and topics helpful?

Yes No

100.00% 0.00%

4. What type of presentation or guest speaker would be of most interest to you?

a. Product representatives (presenting information about new & existing products) b. health providers (endocrinologist, exercise physiologist, psychologist) c. Paediatric issues (e.g. information on diabetes camps) d. People who are well-connected with issues (including peers and other diabetes organisations/websites) e. People with Type 1 diabetes to talk about their own experiences f. Other (please specify) * See Appendix B

56.30% 87.50% 18.80% 78.10% 56.30% 12.50%

5. Is there anything not covered here that you would like to see in DIG?

*See Appendix C

Appendix C

5. Is there anything not covered here that you would like to see in DIG?

a. Allow some time at end of meeting to open up the floor for a general discussion or Q & A.

b. An occasional social spin-off; additional informal support of members. 6.00pm on a week night is also a difficult early time for me, although I recognise others seem to prefer this early time.

c. Not that I can think of, thank you.

d. Don't know

e. Seek arrangements with interstate diabetes clinics for our members to visit them and note advantages they have in the ways they provide diabetes services. Also investigate why DA-ACT Buddy System 2003 did not get off the ground.

f. Thanks to all the organisers for their efforts in keeping this going!

g. Sporting/group participation events (e.g) representative group/team participation in local/national events, with regard to aspects of group interests)
Ongoing public group/community communication/discussion/ advocacy via internet or circulated publication.

h. Are relatively new to group

i. Informal meets as well as formal.

j. The information sessions are really good, it would be good to foster social interactions, but it is hard in such a disparate group - and we would not want a focus on a common medical condition as a basis for social interaction - so some social function would probably need some other distraction/ discussion point.

k. No. These presentations are fantastic and I look forward to attending more in 2011. Thanks!

l. A couple of presenters last year seemed to speak about issues to do with Type 1 in children. I suggest any guest speakers be advised to focus their talks on issues to do with adults with Type 1, including those diagnosed with Type 1 as adults [especially because there are an entirely different set of issues for people diagnosed with Type 1 as adults].

m. DIG has been very helpful for enabling me to come to terms with my diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes (Diagnosed in 2008).

n. I have not attended any of these new meeting as the times held can be difficult to attend to. After 6.00pm would be my preference as I work full time. In addition with the old group the chance to talk between ourselves meant that there were times when we helped each other outside of the meeting forum.

o. Management strategies - overall strategy for good exercise, insulin, food and testing as well as management of specific life events (dinner out, exercise, work etc). Assessment of blood glucose control - how do people assess themselves and what do they consider satisfactory (and why).

p. why do hypos cause such debilitating hypo hangovers? What is the medical cause of this?