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Join the thousands of healthcare professionals who have realized their passion for working as diabetes care and education specialists (DCES).
Diabetes Educator
Role of the Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
A diabetes care and education specialist (DCES), formerly known as a diabetes educator (DE), provides collaborative, comprehensive, person-centered care and education to people with diabetes, prediabetes and cardiometabolic conditions.
With skills and experience in the biological and social sciences, communication and counseling, diabetes care and education specialists come from a variety of healthcare backgrounds, working in hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, pharmacies, home health, and public health and wellness programs.
They’re typically licensed nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians and pharmacists, and are often part of an accredited diabetes education program.
As key members of the broader diabetes healthcare team, diabetes educators work in partnership with physicians to develop care plans and monitor patient progress. They’re also increasingly becoming the “go to” experts on diabetes devices and technologies aided by danatech®, our resource for keeping diabetes care and education specialists up to date on the latest diabetes technology.
DCES-Specific Credentials
CDCES Credential
If you decide to practice as a diabetes care and education specialist, you can also become certified to highlight your expertise in diabetes care and education. The Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), formerly known as certified diabetes educator (CDE), is credentialled in diabetes care and education, and has extensive knowledge and experience in prediabetes, diabetes prevention and diabetes management. This credential is administered and maintained by an outside certification board called the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education.
BC-ADM Credential
If you’re a practitioner who provides advanced diabetes management, you’re eligible to attain the Board Certified - Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM®) credential. This is for practitioners who adjust medications, treat and monitor acute and chronic complications, provide lifestyle modification counseling, address psychosocial issues, and participate in research and mentoring within their scope of practice. This credential is managed by ADCES® and administered by Meazure Learning.
DCES Core Competencies
Core Competencies for the Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Successful diabetes care and education specialists demonstrate a set of DCES core competencies. To be effective in today’s dynamic healthcare environment, DCESs need to have the knowledge, skills and abilities that fall into the following six domains.
To create your own roadmap for success, use our self-assessment worksheets. You might also find our sample job description helpful.
The diabetes care and education specialist integrates knowledge and skills into clinical practice for pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical management and self-management of diabetes and cardiometabolic conditions.
More About Clinical Management Practice and IntegrationThe diabetes care and education specialist advocates for and communicates about improved quality of care and outcomes for those living with, at risk for, and affected by diabetes and cardiometabolic conditions.
More About Communication and AdvocacyThe diabetes care and education specialist partners with individuals to deliver care and education conducive to behavior change and improved quality of life for self-management of diabetes and cardiometabolic conditions across the lifespan.
More About Person-Centered Care and EducationThe diabetes care and education specialist contributes to research and quality improvement activities and applies current research and evidence-based care to guide practice.
More About Research and Quality ImprovementThe diabetes care and education specialist applies business principles, systems practice, and population health management to support achievement of the Quadruple Aim (reduced costs, better outcomes/population health, improved patient experience, and improved work life for healthcare providers).
More About Systems-Based PracticeThe diabetes care and education specialist engages in lifelong learning and serves as a role model of professionalism.
More About Professional PracticeDCES Careers
DCES Job Board
Looking for a change? Take a look at our Career Resource Center where you can post your resume, search and apply for jobs, and get alerts when a job that matches your criteria is posted. We also offer a DCES career resource center that has a wide array of helpful articles and video presentations.
Are you an employer? The ADCES® Career Center is a perfect place to post your open positions and search resumes.
Advice on Starting Your DCES Career
Interested in the specialty but not sure where to start? We offer resources to help you understand what a diabetes care and education specialist does and advice to help you enter the profession.
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