What is the primary role of a CDE?

The primary role of a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) is to educate individuals on diabetes self-management. This education encompasses a wide range of topics, including understanding diabetes, monitoring blood glucose, medication management, nutrition, physical activity, and preventing complications. A CDE helps patients develop personalized management plans that suit their lifestyles and health needs, which empowers them to take control of their condition and improve their overall health outcomes.

While supporting medical diagnoses is important in health care, it falls outside the specific training and focus of a CDE, whose expertise lies in education rather than diagnosis. Similarly, administering insulin therapies is often conducted by healthcare providers like nurses or physicians, rather than an educator. Conducting clinical trials pertains to research activities, which is distinct from the primary function of providing education and support to individuals managing diabetes. Therefore, the emphasis on self-management education distinctly identifies the core responsibility of a CDE.