This year, the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) marks 40 years of advancing excellence in diabetes care—an anniversary that invites both reflection and renewed purpose.
In 1986, diabetes education was already being delivered by nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists, but there was no shared way to recognize specialized expertise. That changed when a group of visionary leaders came together to form the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators. Nearly 1,250 clinicians stepped forward to sit for the first exam that October—raising their hands to help define a profession. For Anne Daly, MS, RDN, BC-ADM, CDCES, a Springfield, Illinois dietitian still practicing today, it was a defining moment. “Certification introduced a new level of recognition for diabetes education as a respected art and science,” she recalls.
What followed has been four decades of continuous evolution—driven by science, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to people with diabetes. New medications, emerging technologies, and expanding research have reshaped what’s possible in care, continually raising the bar for those in the field. In 2020, the CDE credential became the CDCES—Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist—reflecting the growing complexity and impact of the role. Along the way, CBDCE introduced computer-based testing, mentorship and scholarship programs, NCCA accreditation, and, most recently, the 2024 Ambassador Program—empowering certificants to serve as advocates and voices for the profession. The latest milestone brings even greater alignment: CBDCE’s assumption of the BC-ADM credential from ADCES, uniting advanced clinical diabetes management with the CDCES under one organization. Together, these credentials show a broad, connected range of expertise, grounded in consistent, rigorous standards.
Forty years ago, a small group set out to define excellence in diabetes education. Today, that vision lives on in every certified professional who brings skill, compassion, and credibility to their work. As CBDCE looks ahead, the mission remains clear—and more important than ever: to ensure that every person with diabetes has access to care guided by proven expertise. The next chapter starts now.