Why Seeing a Diabetes Educator Could Be the Key to Your Health Success

Why Seeing a Diabetes Educator Could Be the Key to Your Health Success

With a new diagnosis of diabetes [pre-, Type 1 or Type 2], there are a plethora of questions you probably will have about what that means for you. And sure, the internet is a great resource for GENERAL information when you need it. However, a diabetes educator could be the key to your success in your blood sugar and health management.

What IS a diabetes educator, anyhow?

Diabetes educators, like me, are health care providers who are certified and specially trained in diabetes care and management to help educate patients in a number of ways. We can provide personalized information about your diagnosis and what you can do to manage it successfully.

Education

First and foremost, we help individuals understand their diagnosis. One thing I know from years of being a diabetes educator is that every person is different. Each individual’s experience with diabetes is unique and separate from another’s. There is no one-size-fits-all rulebook to follow. Therefore, the information we provide is specially tailored to YOU.

We help you understand your blood sugar patterns, medications and how they work in your body [or side effects you may have], options for monitoring your blood glucose, and coach you about lifestyle changes you can make that will positively affect your blood sugar management.

Individualized Care

We provide patients with the individualized care they might not be getting at their doctor’s office. We can help find solutions based on the age, ability, specific goals, and blood sugar management needs of each client. This tailored approach helps patients achieve the highest level of success.

Diabetes educators are trained to know how all diabetes medications work, when they are indicated [and when they are not], possible side effects and how to manage them, and proper administration. Methods of managing blood sugar are different for everyone–one person might need insulin, whereas another might be prescribed an oral medication or a GLP-1 [see last month’s blog for more info on those!], or a combination.

Doctors often don’t have or take the time to go over all the specifics of medications they prescribe or lab results with patients in an office visit. Diabetes educators can focus specifically on providing this information and helping patients advocate for themselves when working with their healthcare team. Knowledge is power.

Support

We are your biggest cheerleader! Diabetes educators provide motivation and support when times get hard, and will celebrate with you when you reach a goal–no matter how small! Some people with this diagnosis can feel that family members or others they live with don’t truly understand the implications of living with diabetes. A diabetes educator can help families and others in your support system understand what type of support you need and how to provide it. We want everyone to participate and make it a team effort!

Your Health Team

Your diabetes educator plays an important role in coordinating your care across what could be multiple health care professionals. We can work in concert with your primary care physician and other providers to ensure that your care is comprehensive and consistent. This will help prevent any confusion and conflicts between practitioners, which ultimately will help you achieve your personal goals.

Technology

Diabetes educators are specially trained to stay current with the latest diabetes technologies available and help make them more accessible to the people who need them. From continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to insulin pumps, they provide hands-on education to ensure individuals know how to use these tools effectively and confidently. They help you understand how the technology works, guide you through setup and daily use, and help you interpret the data to make informed decisions about your care. And when questions or challenges arise, they can be a resource for troubleshooting and ongoing support.

Prevention

Diabetes educators are not only for individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes. In fact, consulting a diabetes educator can be extremely helpful if your doctor has told you that you are pre-diabetic. When you are pre-diabetic, you are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Therefore, getting the support and advice from a professional about how to prevent pre-diabetes from becoming Type 2 is of the utmost importance! Making the right changes in your diet and lifestyle before a diabetes diagnosis can make all the difference. Doing it alone can be tough–diabetes educators are here to help make it easier!

To Sum It Up

Diabetes educators are a great resource for managing your diabetes or pre-diabetes no matter what stage of the journey you are in–whether you are newly diagnosed or are just looking for new or better ways to manage your blood sugar. Personally, the diabetes educators I know and went to school with are some of the most caring, dedicated professionals I know. We truly care for our patients and want to help them achieve success. If you are interested, but don’t know where to start, below are a couple resources that might be helpful. You can also reach out to me at: yourdiabetesrd@gmail.com .

Resources:

CBDCE (Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education):
CBDCE provides a search tool to locate CDCESs, which are certified diabetes educators.

American Diabetes Association:
The ADA's Education Recognition Program helps individuals find Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) programs and certified educators.

Here is the link to learn about my services and to how to book a FREE call with me!

Practice Better - Shelby Hoskins, MS, RD, CDCES