What is a certified diabetes educator?

Certified diabetes educators are health professionals who have special training to help you manage your diabetes. They may be:

• Registered nurses.
• Registered dietitians.
• Pharmacists.
• Doctors.

Your diabetes educator will give you tips and help with daily diabetes care. He or she also may teach classes. These classes give you a chance to learn from and connect with others who have diabetes.

Why see a diabetes educator?

Your doctor wants you to get the personal support and help that a diabetes educator can give. Check with your health plan to find out if part or all of the cost is covered.

Learning is a key part of living with diabetes. A diabetes educator teaches about the most important parts of your care. You will learn about:

• Eating healthy meals.
• Being active.
• Taking medicine.
• Checking your blood sugar.
• Dealing with your feelings about having diabetes.

He or she can help you find ways to live better with diabetes. And your diabetes educator can show you small changes that can make a big difference in your daily routine and your health. If you need to make a big change, he or she will be able to answer your questions and guide you though each step.

When should you see one?

It can be helpful to see a diabetes educator at certain points in your care. He or she can:

• Get you started when you're first diagnosed with diabetes.
• Check in regularly for a review of your health and daily routine.
• Show you how to handle a new health problem along with your diabetes.
• Help you work with a new health care team.