More Than Training: The Story Behind Our Bespoke Carbohydrate Counting Workshop

At DUET diabetes, we often say we offer bespoke training but what does that really mean in practice?

Recently, we were approached by a supported living provider looking for carbohydrate counting training. They were supporting a young adult living with learning disabilities and type 1 diabetes, and needed something very specific. Their local healthcare team were unable to provide the training, so they came to us for support.

This is where “bespoke” truly begins.

Listening First

Before anything else, we listened.

We took the time to understand their situation, the individual they were supporting, and the challenges their team faced day-to-day. It wasn’t about delivering a standard course, it was about understanding their needs and their desired outcomes.

From there, we developed a tailored proposal designed specifically for them.

Designing Training That Works in the Real World

We created an interactive, practical half-day workshop for eight members of their team built entirely around real-life scenarios they encounter.

This wasn’t just about explaining carbohydrate counting, it went beyond this.

We took the time to:

• Demonstrate how it works in practice

• Used real examples, including recipes and food labels

• Created opportunities for hands-on learning

• Built in plenty of time for questions and discussion

Each delegate also received a topic-specific pack, including a comprehensive printed handbook, something we provide as standard across all our workshops to support continued learning beyond the session.

Looking at the Bigger Picture

The session didn’t just focus on numbers and calculations.

We began with a discussion around the importance of maintaining a balanced and nutritional diet, something that underpins effective diabetes management for everyone.

We also explored real-world situations, such as eating out and making informed choices, helping the team feel more confident in supporting day-to-day decisions.

To close the session, we revisited the importance of injection technique, reinforcing best practice and highlighting the value of ongoing communication, both within their team and with wider healthcare professionals.

Why Bespoke Matters

For us, bespoke training is about more than tailoring content.

It’s about:

• Listening carefully

• Being flexible and responsive

• Working collaboratively

• Keeping the individual at the heart of everything

Ultimately, it’s about going the extra mile to ensure care teams feel confident, capable, and supported.

Our training continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of the sector, delivering engaging, cost-effective education that enables truly person-centred care.

The Impact

The feedback from the team speaks for itself:

“The workshop was helpful and useful, I have learnt a lot.” “Thankful, the training was very useful.”

When asked about the most useful parts of the session, delegates highlighted:

“Calculating the carbs from recipes, it was truly helpful. The part when we learnt about eating out and ways of calculating carbs.”

“It was helpful in understanding the importance of a balanced diet and how to count specific carbohydrates in meals from recipes and label information.”

At DUET diabetes, this is what bespoke training looks like.

It’s not just a service, it’s a partnership, built on understanding, education, and a shared goal of improving outcomes for people living with diabetes. So, if you need extra training for your team but what is out there just doesn’t fulfil your requirements, get in touch and we can create the exact training you are looking for.