2 Healthcare Professionals You Should Meet: Certified Diabetes Educator and Registered Dietitian

It is common to feel a mix of emotions after first being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, one of which may be a feeling of being lost and uncertain where to start.

How to ease into successful diabetes management

Meeting with a certified diabetes educator (CDE) and a registered dietitian (RD) can help ease you into your new (hopefully healthier) lifestyle by providing you and your loved ones with invaluable education.

Diabetes self-management education will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully take on daily diabetes self-care.^1,2 This education should be provided by a CDE. A CDE is commonly a registered nurse (RN) or RD.

The Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2018 recommend the following:

• “…… all people with diabetes should participate in diabetes self-management education to facilitate the knowledge, skills, and ability necessary for diabetes self-care and in diabetes self-management support to assist with implementing and sustaining skills and behaviors needed for ongoing self-management.”²
• “All individuals with diabetes should be offered a referral for individualized MNT*, preferably provided by a registered dietitian who is knowledgeable and skilled in providing diabetes-specific MNT.” ²

*MNT - medical nutrition therapy

What is a certified diabetes educator (CDE)?

A CDE is a health care professional that has extensive knowledge in diabetes prevention and diabetes management. A CDE provides ongoing education and support to individuals with diabetes throughout their lifespan.^1,2,3

How can a CDE help?

Certified diabetes educators provide a wide range of education that may include:

• Understanding the medication prescribed by your physician, including insulin use and proper injection technique
• How to use diabetes devices (i.e. blood glucose meter, insulin pump, etc.)
• Assisting with pattern management (adjusting medication based on your glucose logs)
• Understanding nutrition and diabetes
• Understanding how exercise impacts your health and diabetes management
• Tips for healthy coping
• Connecting you with community resources and support groups

To become a CDE, a qualified health-care professional must pass a nationally recognized exam that encompasses all aspects of diabetes care. Once the examination is successfully passed the CDE must obtain a certain amount of continuing education every 5 years or retake the certification exam to maintain the CDE credential.³

What is a registered dietitian (RD)?

A registered dietitian is a health care professional with expertise in food, nutrition, and medical nutrition therapy. To become a registered dietitian specific academic and professional requirements must be met, some of which include:⁴

• A bachelor's degree in dietetics from an accredited college or university
• Complete of an internship program that includes clinical, community, and food service experience
• Pass a nationally recognized exam
• Complete the ongoing professional continuing education⁴

Registered dietitians may also specialize in diabetes and eventually become certified diabetes educators.

How can an RD help?

Registered dietitians may help in the following ways:

• Assess current diet for nutritional adequacy
• Develop meal plans that target specific goals (i.e. improve nutrient balance, assist with weight loss, manage a chronic disease, avoid specific food allergens and/or food intolerances, etc.)
• Assist with developing a grocery list
• Provide medical nutrition therapy. Medical Nutrition Therapy “Is an evidence-based medical approach to treating certain chronic conditions (i.e. diabetes) through the use of an individually-tailored nutrition plan.” ⁵

Insurance coverage for diabetes and nutrition education