Certified diabetes educator (CDE)
Diabetes educators are health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, exercise specialists, and social workers, who specialize in the treatment of people who have diabetes.
Diabetes educators teach about nutrition, exercise, medicine, blood sugar monitoring, and emotional adjustment to diabetes. They work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, doctor's offices, nursing homes, and neighborhood clinics. They may teach people in groups or individually.
Certified diabetes educators (CDEs) are licensed in their professional fields in the states in which they practice. Most are certified by the National Certification Board of Diabetes Educators. Certification is voluntary.
What is a certified diabetes educator?
Certified diabetes educators are health professionals who have special training to help you manage your diabetes. They may be:
- Registered nurses.
- Registered dietitians.
- Pharmacists.
- Social workers.
- Doctors.
Your diabetes educator will give you tips and help with daily diabetes care. They also may teach classes. These classes give you a chance to learn from and connect with others who have diabetes.
When should you see a certified diabetes educator?
It can be helpful to see a diabetes educator at certain points in your care. He or she can:
- Get you started when you're first diagnosed with diabetes.
- Check in once a year for a review of your health and daily routine.
- Show you how to handle a new health problem along with your diabetes.
- Help you work with a new health care team.
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