any diabetes educators out there?

CDEWannaBe · Nov 10, 2011

I'm curious to hear from Diabetes Educators out there too. Education makes a huge difference in the quality of life and the short and long term health of any diabetic. Thanks to modern technology there's no reason a diabetic can't live a normal and long life.

Currently I'm in nursing school, with the goal to become a Certified Diabetes Educator. I've had type 1 diabetes for 34 years and can only offer you a patient's perspective on diabetes educators.

They helped me when I was first diagnosed, understanding how diabetes works and ways to adjust blood sugar including insulin, menu planning, and activity. CDEs work mostly with type 2 diabetics (since they make up 90% of the diabetic population) and help them understand carb counting and other lifestyle changes to increase insulin sensitivity. They also work with both type 1 and type 2 on learning how to give insulin injections, use insulin pumps, glucose monitors, and continuous glucose monitors. Then they help patients adjust insulin doses and learn how to self-adjust. They also help with special situations, like maintaining blood sugar during athletic training and competition and managing blood sugars on sick days.

I'm expecting the biggest challenge to be human nature. You can ask a person to make healthy lifestyle changes, but they may not be willing. A diabetic is more than her disease. I'm a mom, work full-time and go to school part-time. I could have much better control if all I did was think about diabetes, but in real life you have to figure out how to manage diabetes while still living a normal life. CDEs often have to be available all the time. Patients often expect to have phone/email support if they have an unexpectedly high blood sugar or other problem.

If you like working with people and are an encourager and good problem solver, I think you'd be great as a CDE.

AngelicDarkness · Nov 10, 2011

Not an educator, but I am curious to, as I have signed up for the course starting in Dec. I can't wait to dip my toes in:)

Flames9_RN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Nov 10, 2011

My sister back in Canada is a certified RN Diabetes educator/coordinator. I do not know all the details, but she has worked out of the hospital, clinics, visited Native reservations. For the most part the positions are Monday through Saturday, 8-5, no shift work. She works a mixture of days. Her days off rotated, but of course that all depends where you work. She seems to really enjoy it. She enjoys the teaching portion, but finds it frustrating that some do not take diabetes seriously, especially the natives. Cheers

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Nov 10, 2011

I work as an Educator in a small hospital. I get referrals from nurses when patients are going on insulin for first time, new DM diagnosis or uncontrolled DM or prn nurse assessment of educational needs. Of course I am consulted by MD sometimes. I work with social workers and case managers to be sure patient has meds/equipment for home use. We do not have out-pt education but I request MD to refer to CDE in town. Mostly it is about assessing what their learning needs or compliance barriers might be. Not enough time in a hospital situation to teach, especially when patient is too ill to listen. But my position saves our staff nurses from having to do it. Teaching insulin admin can take up to an hour!!