A diabetes educator is a health professional such as a doctor, nurse, dietitian, social worker, pharmacist or exercise physiologist who specializes in the care and treatment of diabetic patients. A majority of diabetes educators are certified diabetes educators (CDE) who have met special criteria to care for people with diabetes because of the knowledge they have about the disease.

There is quite a bit to learn about diabetes, avoiding its complications and managing the disease effectively. Basically, diabetes education focuses on several behaviors that people can learn to do for themselves to improve their health including:

• Eat properly


• Engage in regular physical activity


• Monitor blood glucose levels


• Reduce risk factors


• Take medication if prescribed


• Cope with having diabetes


• Solve diabetes related problems

Knowledge is power and diabetes education makes a major difference in the quality of life for diabetics.

Diabetics are at an increased risk for a plethora of health problems, including heart disease, gum disease, kidney disease, neurological difficulties and more. Learning how to detect potential problems and manage your condition is essential to your physical well-being and overall health.

A diabetes educator puts the complete focus on you - the diabetes patient. The diabetes education will get to know you and your individual lifestyle to help you determine the best way to attain success in achieving a healthy diabetic lifestyle. No matter what your everyday schedule is, your physical problems, your eating habits or your activities, a diabetic educator can help you work out your situation so it works well for you.

Besides attaining certification, diabetes educators may decide to belong to an organization such as the American Association of Diabetes Educators. The Association was started in 1973 to organize health care professionals with the common goal of teaching self-management techniques to diabetics.

Your diabetes educator should be a skilled professional who makes you feel comfortable about discussing your disease. A diabetes educator should teach you essential knowledge and skills to live effectively with diabetes and be able to provide answers to your basic questions.

People with diabetes should have a team of professionals to assist them with their condition, including their treating physician, diabetes educator, eye doctor, dentist, podiatrist, social worker, nurse or nurse practitioner, dietitian, counselor, social worker, pharmacist, family and friends. The team will help you to realize your goals, avoid pitfalls and maintain the highest level of physical and emotional health possible.

Last, but certainly not least, remember that you are the most important member of your diabetes team. Your efforts may begin with your treating physician and diabetes educator, but when you go home the rest is up to you. Making necessary lifestyle changes is not a choice when you have diabetes - it's a necessity that can greatly improve the quality of your life.

Consider that the Diabetes Prevention Program study revealed that participants at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes reduced their risk of getting it by 58 percent through lifestyle changes. Severe risks related to diabetes such as amputation are actually up to 85 percent preventable with increased patient education. Diabetes educators can give you the essential knowledge, skills and tools to live a long, active and happy life with diabetes.