Healthcare Providers

If you're caring for someone with diabetes who needs education on managing diabetes, consider referring them to a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES).

Nurses, dietitian nutritionists, physicians, pharmacists and other health professionals have earned the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) credential to demonstrate to colleagues and people living with diabetes that they are educated and skilled in diabetes care, management and education. The CDCES credential is a standard of excellence for the delivery of quality diabetes care and education.

CDCESs have completed and passed a rigorous certification process, including passage of an exam, to show they have specialized knowledge in many aspects of diabetes care and management.

A CDCES can help people living with diabetes:
  • Possess comprehensive knowledge of and experience in diabetes prevention, prediabetes, and diabetes care and management. 
  • Promote self-management to achieve individualized behavioral and treatment goals that reduce risks and optimize health outcomes.

Supporting and Promoting Diabetes Care and Management

Diabetes is a complex disease that impacts peoples’ lives in challenging ways. CDCES professionals are at the forefront of diabetes care and management. They can educate your patients on

Problem Solving

Having a plan when an unusual situation arises is a must for people living with diabetes. A CDCES will help you develop problem-solving skills that will help you avoid a crisis. 

Reducing Risks

Diabetes-related complications and other health issues can affect people with diabetes. Your CDCES will teach you to recognize the risks and help you reduce them. 

Healthy Coping

Chronic illness is hard. Your CDCES will help you develop strategies for coping so you can work through psychological, physical and emotional issues as you learn to live with diabetes.

Healthy Eating

Your CDCES will help you make food choices that will best help you manage your blood sugar. 

Being Active

You’ll learn about the benefits of staying active. Regular activity will help you lose weight, improve your blood pressure, lower your cholesterol and control your blood sugar. 

Monitoring

CDCES professionals teach you how to check and monitor your blood levels and how to adjust your diet or activity if the levels are higher than they should be. 

Taking Medication

Medications to treat diabetes and related conditions are available to you. Your CDCES will teach about medications, including how to use insulin.
Obtaining general diabetes information can be helpful in the short term, but diabetes care and education can lead to better managed diabetes, decrease short and long-term complications, and produce better outcomes when you partner with a CDCES.