From CDE to DCES (Diabetes Care and Education Specialist)

January 24, 2020
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A new specialty title, Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (DCES), was announced on January 22, 2020 and the AADE name changed to the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists. This reflects DCESs leadership position in diabetes care and education and more accurately describes all that DCESs do for people with diabetes.

Diabetes Care and Education Specialists are professionals who can be nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, physicians, or others who have expertise in the field, and they have an enormous positive influence on people living with diabetes. Self-management education is at the heart of what educators do but clinical management has emerged as a key part of that role as well. AADE explored the previous “certified diabetes educator” title of the specialty to asses if it still appropriate or if there was a need for a new title that reflected the increased relevance of this role. It was affirmed the current title did not reflect everything in the scope of an educator’s work.

“I have been dedicated to diabetes care and education for over 40 years, and I have seen first-hand the life-changing difference diabetes care and education specialists can make for people with diabetes and their families. This name evolution will bring focus to the expanded services obtained from these professionals and the need for all people with diabetes to have access,” said Joan Bardsley, CWD board member and past president of AADE.

Many families work with certified diabetes educators (CDEs) as part of their health care team. The certification is managed by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE), which has been involved in the rebranding process from the beginning. The Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) credential is transitioning to the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) credential and the organization will be changing its name to the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) starting in 2020.

Children with Diabetes has long-recognized the importance of real-life diabetes education to ensure our children and families can manage the complexities of their diabetes on a daily basis. We at CWD support and commend these changes, which recognize the role quality education and care play in our children’s lives.