Contact a CDCES for Help
Living with Diabetes
If you are newly diagnosed or need guidance in managing your diabetes, you may not know where to start.
Consider getting help from a professional that specializes in diabetes care and education that will partner with you to provide you with the skills to self-manage your diabetes.
One way to successfully manage your diabetes is to work with a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, also known as a CDCES. Your CDCES can help you gain knowledge about a broad range of topics such as:
One way to successfully manage your diabetes is to work with a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, also known as a CDCES. Your CDCES can help you gain knowledge about a broad range of topics such as:
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 can 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
Living with chronic illness can take a toll. 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 high.
Taking Medication
Medications to treat diabetes and related conditions are available to you. Your CDCES will teach about medications, including how to use insulin.
CDCESs can also help educate your family members about ways to support your healthy eating, lifestyle changes, and other aspects of health care self-management.
What is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist?
Before 2020, the CDCES was known as the Certified Diabetes Educator® (CDE®).
A Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) is a health professional who possesses comprehensive knowledge of and experience in diabetes prevention, prediabetes, and diabetes care and management. Since it was first awarded in 1986, the CDCES credential has become a standard of excellence for the delivery of quality diabetes care and education. The CDCES educates, supports, and advocates for people affected by diabetes. The CDCES promotes self-management to achieve individualized behavioral and treatment goals that reduce risks and optimize health outcomes. CDCESs have completed a rigorous process including passing an exam to show they have specialized knowledge in diabetes care and management.
A Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) is a health professional who possesses comprehensive knowledge of and experience in diabetes prevention, prediabetes, and diabetes care and management. Since it was first awarded in 1986, the CDCES credential has become a standard of excellence for the delivery of quality diabetes care and education. The CDCES educates, supports, and advocates for people affected by diabetes. The CDCES promotes self-management to achieve individualized behavioral and treatment goals that reduce risks and optimize health outcomes. CDCESs have completed a rigorous process including passing an exam to show they have specialized knowledge in diabetes care and management.
What is Diabetes Care and Education?
Diabetes care and education is a collaborative process through which people with or at risk for diabetes gain the knowledge and skills needed to successfully manage the disease and its related conditions. It can take place in a group or one-on-one setting as part of a recognized or accredited education program or in an informal format.
Obtaining general diabetes information can be helpful in the short term, but diabetes care and education can lead to better managed diabetes and decrease short and long-term complications when you partner with a CDCES.
Are you ready to take charge of your diabetes and improve your health? Get started today.
Obtaining general diabetes information can be helpful in the short term, but diabetes care and education can lead to better managed diabetes and decrease short and long-term complications when you partner with a CDCES.
Are you ready to take charge of your diabetes and improve your health? Get started today.
Diabetes and pre-diabetes affect over 100 million people in the US, costing more than $325 billion each year. View the PBS two-hour special documentary: Blood Sugar Rising: America's Hidden Diabetes Epidemic.
The documentary puts human faces to these statistics, exploring the history and science of the illness through portraits and voices of Americans whose stories shape the documentary. Together, they present a dramatic depiction of this hidden national crisis. The film also reveals new hopes: from the rise of safer and easier medical treatments to new discoveries about lifestyle and environmental factors, Blood Sugar Rising reports on those taking action to improve diabetes management and prevention.
Watch the two-hour PBS documentary now! (Courtesy of PBS)
The documentary puts human faces to these statistics, exploring the history and science of the illness through portraits and voices of Americans whose stories shape the documentary. Together, they present a dramatic depiction of this hidden national crisis. The film also reveals new hopes: from the rise of safer and easier medical treatments to new discoveries about lifestyle and environmental factors, Blood Sugar Rising reports on those taking action to improve diabetes management and prevention.
Watch the two-hour PBS documentary now! (Courtesy of PBS)
Answers to Your Questions
We often hear from people who have been diagnosed with diabetes who have questions about their care and about working with a CDCES. We’ve put together some typical questions and responses for your convenience. If you have other questions, please feel free to contact us.
Please read our public awareness advisory for more information on the credential.
Please read our public awareness advisory for more information on the credential.