b'EDUCATION GUIDE|also has a highly variable dayIn a typicalAccording to the ADCES, yearsday I am seeing people with diabetes, pre-diabetes, and cardiovascular disease with of research indicated that patientsmany different care needs regarding their diabetes management. For most of them, I often feared or did not enjoyam evaluating their past and present labs, going to see a CDE because of thebody mass index, blood pressure, collect-ing a diet recall, reviewing blood glucose educator component of the name. logs and continuous glucose monitor data, if available. I am also discussing any recom-mendations I may have pertaining to the medication regimen with their physician. ers, and other stakeholders. JOB REQUIREMENTS Depending on the day and the site I am at, When people ask what I do on a daily basis, Iit never looks the same. Most people benefit CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS always joke that no two days are the same from multiple education visits.Though registered nurses are eligible tobecause they arent.become a CDCES, there are various otherCDCES can work in a variety of practiceTHE BOTTOM LINEhealth professionals who are also eligible: settingsinpatient, outpatient, pediatricBecoming a diabetes educator has been the Nurse practitioners clinics, for example. Or you can be like me,most rewarding part of my nursing career. As Pharmacists and do a little bit of everything! with any job, there are ups and downs. I have Physicians I started out working in an outpa- days where I feel that I am wiped out and do Podiatrists tient clinic. As I became more confidentnot have much to give. However, I have more Optometrists in my role, I began working with pediatricdays that I leave my office feeling as if I have Occupational therapists patients, floating to the Specialty Clinic,made a difference in my patients lives. Physical therapists which is where we see pediatric type 1 dia- If you are considering becoming a diabetes Dietitians betes patients when a visiting endocrinol- educator, you should know that it isnt an easy Physicians assistant ogist comes to our hospital. Our practicejob. There is more to learn than you would Exercise physiologist expanded and we added an inpatient diabe- think, especially about medications and insu-Health educator (Master Certifiedtes educator. Eventually our inpatient educa- lin. But you should also know that you will Health Education Specialist) tor became our director, and I stepped intolearn how to relate to people on a very human Health care professional with a Mastersthe vacated role. level and it will change your life.nDegree in Social Work As someone who knows how to do most The healthcare professional who is seek- roles in our office, I get called to fill in every- RESOURCESing to become certified must have at leastwhere. For example, I often start my day1.Becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and two years of working experience in theirreviewing blood sugar values and insulinEducation Specialist (CDCES). (n.d.). qualifying profession in the four years priorusage on hospital inpatients, then meetingADCES. Retrieved September 27, 2020, to applying for certification. In addition, thewith them to discuss how their blood sug- from applicant must have 1,000 hours in diabeticars are trending. In addition, I may review2.https://www.diabeteseducator.org/education within four yearsand 400 hourstheir discharge needs, helping them, alongeducation/certification/cdcesin the year preceding application. with their providers and case managers,3.Cervoni, B. (2020, March 9). What is a The applicant must obtain 15 credits ofcome up with a plan that is both financiallyCertified Diabetes Care and Education continuing education within the two yearsreasonable and doable to the patient, amidstSpecialist? Verywell Health. https://prior to applying for certification. whatever health crisis brought them into thewww.verywellhealth.com/certified-di-The certifying exam costs $350 and eval- clinic. abetes-care-and-education-special-uates the applicant on their knowledge ofThen, I may have to rush to see an outpa- ist-4788020diabetes disease management, assessment,tient who was added onto my schedule who4.What is a Certified Diabetes Care and and interventions. needs to start insulin or who has gestationalEducation Specialist (CDCES)? (n.d.). The certification must be renewed everydiabetes. South Dakota Diabetes Coalition. five years; there is a cost for recertifying. InLater, I may finish the day charting orRetrieved September 27, 2020, from addition, there are specific requirements forreviewing blood sugar logs or insulin pumphttp://www.sddiabetescoalition.org/cer-continuing education hours. downloads from our pediatric patients. tified-diabetes-care-education-spe-Jennifer Kartashevsky, another CDCES,cialist.html 12 EDUCATION GUIDE|2020| www.elitecme.com'