
#AADE17: An Uncertain Future for Diabetes Education
What will diabetes education look like in 5-10 years? Or moving into 2030 for that matter?
One thing that became clear at the recent annual meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) in Indianapolis is that there's some serious concern about this profession, which has been at a crossroads for at least a decade now, and we've wondered in the past if the organization was "lost at sea" in adapting to current trends.
To keep up with the changing times, some wonder now if we've reached a point where CDEs (Certified Diabetes Educators) might need to drop that official title in favor of something with more of a coaching bent, like "diabetes care coordinators," facilitators, managers, or possibly even "Diabetes Champions" (!)
Whatever the term, a big theme at the AADE conference was the fact that these healthcare team members have some of the highest potential to help PWDs (people with diabetes) by recognizing what's working and what isn't, and identifying other health or social issues that may be lurking beneath the surface. Yet CDEs are struggling to redefine their roles in a changing healthcare landscape, and are battling economic realities that prevent many patients from accessing them, or even knowing about the services they provide.
Ten years ago, the big crisis in diabetes education that people were talking about most was the shrinking pool of people going into the profession. But today's crossroads are more about the onslaught of new technology, and uncertainties around insurance coverage and overall access to these professionals who can really help PW
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