NCBDE Hosts New Tool to Help People Living with Diabetes Take Control and Actively Participate in Treatment
Arlington Heights, IL (PRWEB) October 29, 2013 -- The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) hosts a free, online resource to help people living with diabetes or prediabetes identify a Certified Diabetes Educator® (CDE®) in their area. An educator holding the CDE® credential helps individuals learn how to effectively manage and improve their health.
The diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes brings with it a variety of questions: How will this impact my day-to-day life? What changes do I need to make? How can I stay informed and take control of my health? Perhaps the most common first question is, where do I start? The answer is to find a qualified, certified educator to help. CDEs have specialized knowledge that can make a difference in an individual’s physical health and mental outlook.
The CDE is a valuable member of the health care team who helps arm an individual with knowledge and tools to manage and improve health. They decipher a broad range of complex issues and information with the goal of empowering the individual and engaging them in the process.
Carrying the CDE credential is an important responsibility. Before becoming a CDE, candidates must have specific education and experience in the field and must also pass a rigorous examination demonstrating their knowledge and skill. Once certified, they must also periodically renew to remain an active credential holder. All the requirements are enforced to ensure the educator has the latest information to provide the highest quality education.
Diabetes education and care can be provided by health professionals from a number of different disciplines, so different health professionals can hold the CDE credential. Registered nurses, registered dietitians, physicians, pharmacists, and exercise physiologists are some of the different disciplines that are eligible to take the examination and earn the CDE certification.
“All CDEs must pass the same examination to show they have achieved a similar level of knowledge about diabetes and diabetes education, regardless of their discipline,” Carolyn C. Harrington, RD, LDN, CDE®, Chair of the NCBDE Board of Directors, said. “The individual should engage a CDE that they trust—one that motivates them and enables them to become an active participant in the management of the disease. The benefit of the ‘Find a CDE’ resource is that it supports an individual’s efforts to set and reach goals related to improving their health.”
The “Find a CDE” service is available for free on the NCBDE Web site at http://www.ncbde.org.
NCBDE was established in 1986 to develop and administer a certification program for health care professionals who teach individuals with diabetes how to manage their disease. Through the development, maintenance, and protection of the certification process and the CDE credential, NCBDE recognizes and advances the specialty practice of diabetes education. NCBDE supports the concept of voluntary, periodic certification for all diabetes educators who meet credential and experience eligibility requirements. For more information, visit the website at ncbde.org or contact the national office at info(at)ncbde(dot)org or 877-239-3233.
Cynthia Allen, SeaCrest, +1 8776199885 Ext: 703, [email protected]
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