Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include feeling tired, increased hunger or thirst, losing weight without trying, urinating often, or having trouble with blurred vision. You may also get skin infections or heal slowly from cuts and bruises. Some people with type 2 diabetes may not realize they have it because symptoms often develop slowly and go unnoticed. Sometimes older adults dismiss these symptoms as getting old, but they can be signs of a serious problem. Talk with your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
Everything You Need To Know About Certified Diabetes Educators
Modified: Jun 15, 2020 by Elisabeth Almekinder RN, BA, CDE · This post may contain affiliate links ·
In this article, we will explore what it takes to look for a Certified Diabetes Educator, where to look for one, and what questions to ask when you get there, among other things. We will also explore how to become a CDE, and what kind of degree, license, hours and examination that you will need to pass in order to become a Certified Diabetes Educator.
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Where Can I Find A Cdces
Finding a CDCES can be challenging, particularly in rural areas. There are approximately 19, 500 CDCESs in the U.S., or about 1 CDCES to every 1700 people with diabetes.1,2 Most CDCESs can be found within a diabetes education program at a local hospital or a nearby clinic. Diabetes programs are overseen by the American Diabetes Association and/or the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. This oversight gives standards and structure that must be followed in providing diabetes care and education. Outside of these programs, more and more CDCESs are offering their services online, via virtual visits. To find a diabetes program near you, . To find a CDCES in your area, .
Just Getting Started In Diabetes
Are you entering the field of Diabetes and currently:
- A healthcare professional not yet working in the diabetes field
- Working in the field of Diabetes Education
- Working toward becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist®*
Welcome! You are joining a growing number of caring healthcare professionals participating in the rapidly expanding field of Diabetes Education.
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What Do Diabetes Care And Education Specialists Actually Do
What you do as a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist will depend on the setting you work in. Some CDCESs may specialize in working with children with type 1 diabetes where they play a major role in insulin adjustments and technology training. Other CDCEs work more with adults who have type 2 diabetes.
Kartashevsky works in an outpatient hospital in collaboration with primary care physicians, cardiologists, endocrinologists, and vascular doctors. She says, “In a typical day I am seeing people with diabetes, prediabetes, and cardiovascular disease with many different care needs regarding their diabetes management. For most of them, I am evaluating their past and present labs, BMI, blood pressure, collecting a diet recall, reviewing blood glucose logs and continuous glucose monitor data, if available. I am also discussing any recommendations I may have pertaining to the medication regimen with their physician. Depending on the day and the site I am at, it never looks the same. Most people benefit from multiple education visits.”
All Diabetes Care and Education Specialists are encouraged to work at the top of their scope. For example, many CDCEs that are also dietitians are working on teaching people with diabetes how to adjust their own insulin based on blood sugars. Because of this, many referring physicians and institutions have dietitians adjust medications after the medical doctor has signed off on them.
What Is A Medical Director
A medical director is a trained physician who oversees the operations of a healthcare facility. They coordinate teams of nurses, physicians, and non-medical staff to ensure that the overall goals of their facility are being met.
A medical director also oversees patient care and is responsible for making sure that all medical staff is following the facilitys policies and agendas.
This supervisory role does not involve clinical care or direct patient care. The job is to ensure that the facility is meeting or exceeding company goals and standards.
As the director, you will be responsible for developing, approving, and updating policies and procedures. You will set and supervise the protocols of the hospital, medical center, or healthcare group.
You will also be responsible for establishing policies related to emergencies, natural disasters, and pandemics.
Despite the significance and importance of the role, it is usually a part-time position.
Most medical directors work between 10 and 20 hours per week. This allows physicians to take on a part-time leadership role in administration while still providing clinical care and tending to patients.
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How Much Can I Earn
Youll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. The basic salary ranges from £29,384 to £34,012. Once you start your specialty training as an endocrinologist or diabetologist employed by the NHS, you can expect to earn a salary of at least £40,257, which can increase to between £84,559 and £114,003 as a consultant.
Youll Need The Proper Education
In addition, you cannot become a medical director without having the proper training. Medical directors must have experience working as a physician first. While it is an administrative role, it requires the knowledge and education of a trained, practicing physician.
At the minimum, youll need to have completed medical school and finished your residency.
In cases where the role doesnt require any level of patient care , you may not need an active medical license to take on the role.
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Diabetes Diagnosis Treatment And Care
Diabetes is a chronic disease that causes the level of glucose in your blood to get too high. Your pancreas constantly produces a hormone called insulin that moves blood glucose to your cells to use for energy. Someone with diabetes doesnt create enough insulin or process it efficiently. There are three main types of diabetes type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.
At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, were working to advance diabetes treatment and improve our patients daily lives. We have a team of board-certified endocrinologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and diabetes specialists along with our International Diabetes Center experts who focus on the latest research and technology to provide our patients the latest in diabetes care.
Our diabetes specialists include registered nurses, registered dietitian nutritionists, certified diabetes educators, pharmacists, psychologists, other behavioral health professionals, social workers and care coordinators. We work together to provide you all the information you need to understand your disease and develop a treatment and lifestyle plan that works for you.
How To Complete Your Diabetes Educator Certification
Certification as a diabetes educator is a practice-based credential that indicates experience and mastery in the field. The certification is not intended as a step toward first entering the specialty, but diabetes educators who complete the process may be able to pursue advanced career opportunities. CDCES holders may become leaders and mentors within the field, and they make an average salary of $62,605.
To become a CDCES, you must meet the eligibility requirements established by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators and pass the Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators. To be eligible for the exam, fulfill the following requirements:
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Living Well With Diabetes Management Support Group
We know it’s comforting to be with people who understand where you are coming from, and who might have some experience on how to manage this disease. This is why we created a support group a gathering of caregivers and family/friends to discuss ways to effectively manage your condition. Learn the latest information about medications, new tools, and advances in diabetes. The Living Well with Diabetes Management Support Group is free.
Comprehensive Diabetes Education Program
Our diabetes educators teach a 10-hour comprehensive course several times a month. Classes take place at Lee Memorial Hospital, Cape Coral Hospital, HealthPark Medical Center, and the Outpatient Center at the Sanctuary. We offer morning, afternoon and evening classes. The key patient education topics taught during our comprehensive education program:
- Behavior change
Once you complete the program, our diabetes educators will meet with you quarterly to track your progress and assist you with any diabetes management concerns that you have.
This program is a covered benefit of Medicare . Additionally, most HMO, PPO and commercial insurances will cover the cost.
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Apply For A Certification
After being in your career for a few years, you can apply for the Certified Diabetes Educator designation offered through the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators . Once earning this certification, it is valid for five years before you need to reapply. In order to earn this credential, you need to meet the following requirements:
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Having a current RN license
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Completing two years of professional experience
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Completing 1,000 hours of diabetes education within four years of applying for the credential
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Completing 400 hours of diabetes education within the same year of applying
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Completing 15 hours of relevant NCBDE-approved continuing education within two years prior to applying
Another certification you may pursue is the Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management designation from the American Association of Diabetes Educators. This certification is also valid for five years after earning it. If you want to earn this credential, you need to meet the following requirements:
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Having a current RN license
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Earning an advanced nursing degree
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500 hours of clinical experience within four years of applying
Where To Find Out More About A Career In Endocrinology
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Join the Society for Endocrinology. If youre a medical student or undifferentiated trainee a membership will allow you to network with leaders in the specialty, access grants as well as many other opportunities. Find out more.
- Contact a consultant. Attend out-patient clinics, enquire about opportunities to get involved with research, audits, and interesting case reports
- Explore the training pathway on the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board website www.jrcptb.org.uk/
- Explore other societies, including the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists , Young Diabetologists and Endocrinologists Forum and Diabetes UK
- Attend an event. Many meetings are free of charge. Find out more.
- View the endocrine career profiles. Working in endocrinology and diabetes caters for a fascinatingly varied career where you can express your individuality clinically, professionally and personally. Here endocrinologists from all walks of life share their experiences of how they got started, what their jobs involve, the skills that they use and why a career in endocrinology is the place to be. Read about careers profiles.
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How To Become A Credentialled Diabetes Educator In Australia
If youre a dietitian with a taste for Diabetes management, you may have considered becoming a Credentialled Diabetes Educator But do you really know what it takes to become one?
We wrote this blog for any dietitians out there who would like to dig deeper into the world of Diabetes and be able to further their scope to help clients struggling with this chronic condition.
Diabetes And Brain Health
If you have diabetes, your doctor may screen you for depression or cognitive impairment. Older adults with diabetes are at higher risk for these conditions, compared with others their age who do not have diabetes. Having depression or cognitive impairment can make diabetes self-care challenging.
Your diabetes management plan will cover how to:
- Track your glucose levels. Very high glucose levels or very low glucose levels can be risky to your health. Your plan will show how often you should check your glucose and how often to get the A1C test. If you are managing your diabetes without taking insulin, you may not need to check your glucose as often.
- Make healthy food choices. The food you eat affects glucose levels, so its important to learn whats best for you to eat, how much, and when. If you are overweight, work with your health care team to come up with a plan to lose weight.
- Be active. Walking and other forms of daily exercise can help improve glucose levels in older people with diabetes. Set a goal to be more active most days of the week, and create a plan for being physically active that fits into your life and that you can follow. Your health care team can help.
- Take your medicines. You should take medicine as prescribed even when you feel good. Tell your doctor if you have any side effects or cannot afford your medicines. Also, let your doctor know if you have trouble taking your medicine or keeping track of your medication schedule.
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Become A Registered Nurse
Before becoming a diabetes educator nurse, you must become a licensed registered nurse. You can do this by enrolling in an accredited nursing program to earn your Bachelor of Science degree, typically taking four years to complete. During your program, expect to learn about all kinds of sciences, such as biology, chemistry and anatomy. During your later years of nursing school, you’ll also need to complete clinicals to get a full understanding of patient care.
After graduating from your nursing program, you need to earn your RN license in order to legally practice as a registered nurse. You can obtain your license by passing the NCLEX-RN exam in the state you wish to work. This is a rigorous test, making it important to study well in advance and quiz yourself with practice questions.
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Medical Directors Only Work A Few Hours Per Week
Additionally, medical directors are rarely required to work weekends or work on-call. They may do so as part of their clinical practice but usually will not do so for their directorship. In addition to earning extra pay and having a supervisory leadership role, this is one of the biggest perks of working as a medical director.
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A Career In Clinical Endocrinology
As endocrinologists, we are fascinated with how organ systems and chemical signals communicate, enabling the development and function of the entire human body. Training focuses on understanding the physiological systems that regulate our everyday lives, fixing them when they malfunction, and ultimately helping people live longer and happier lives.
How to get there…
Entry into Endocrinology and Diabetes specialist training is possible following successful completion of both a foundation programme and a core training programme. Specialist training years 3-7 follow the curriculum
Exams That Will Allow You To Enroll In A Diabetologist Course
There are many ways to opt for becoming a diabetologist. The most popular one is by completing MD or Do program in diabetology. If this is not something you want to do, completing a diabetologist course can be feasible. Due to the ongoing pandemic, several recognized universities offer diabetology online courses, which carry a lot of value. You can complete it even from your home.
After completing the course, you will have to pass a standardized test to become a licensed and authorized diabetologist. The license will allow you to join any public or private sector company based on your expertise. You can even join the research laboratories where you will be working on groundbreaking technology in this field. Suppose you are interested in imparting knowledge to newer students or undergraduates. In that case, you can also find a job fitting your line of studies.
Now lets see who all will be eligible for this field of study. Anyone who has pursued an MD or DO program from a certified medical school will be able to become a diabetologist. Apart from these, those who have passed 10+2 exams with science can pursue a graduate degree course in medicine.
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What Else Will A Cde Do To Help Me
- Figuring out what types of food are best for you and how to plan meals that fit your life and budget
- Determining the best type of glucose monitoring device for your specific circumstances
- Suggesting charts, apps and other tools to provide reminders and help you track your progress
- Offering tips to help you cope with stress and solve problems as they arise
Frequently Asked Questions About Diabetes
If your child has a diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes, youll be referred to our Pediatric Endocrinology department .
Type 1 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes in children and young adults. Its sometimes referred to as pediatric diabetes or juvenile diabetes.
We accept most health insurance plans, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, CIGNA, HealthPartners, Medica, Medicare, PreferredOne and many others.
Not sure what your insurance covers? Call the number on the back of your card for help looking at your options.
Dont have your card in front of you? Here are member services numbers to help you get started:
- HealthPartners:
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