For a person living with diabetes, having a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) on their care team can make all the difference for better day-to-day management and quality of life. There are nearly 20,000 CDCES in the United States (one to every 1,700 people living with diabetes) who are experts at helping people understand their diagnosis and offer guidance for self-management including device training, lifestyle changes, and medication adherence.
At Cecelia Health, our team of CDCES, registered nurses, registered dietitians, and other clinicians connect with program participants through one-on-one, personalized sessions that address specific needs related to lifestyle, beliefs, and culture. They understand the importance of their role in helping people reduce the risk for complications and learn how to thrive with diabetes.
The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a rapid adoption of telehealth (38% of patients used telehealth in 2022) and emergence of new digital health companies. Cecelia Health, however, has been leading the way since 2009 with a virtual-first approach to drive engagement and improve outcomes. Technology helps our CDCES reach more people across multiple channels, such as live phone calls and video chats, email, text, and on-demand webinars.
Although we are a virtual-first company with 100% remote positions, we’re passionate about the power of human connection to motivate people to make lasting behavior change. Our CDCES find value in the relationships they build and see the impact of their influence every day. What does it mean to be a CDCES at Cecelia Health? Making a difference and flexibility are the top two reasons our clinicians like working for Cecelia Health, according to a 2022 internal survey, and here are some insights:
“Being able to talk with a participant every two weeks and build very personal connections has been so fulfilling! I usually only got to see patients a few times a year in person, and I would feel pressure to cover as much as possible in our limited time together. Now that I can talk with participants frequently in a virtual setting, I can stick with one or two quick topics which is much more effective.”
“One benefit of remote education is our ability to reach people who don’t have access to transportation or the time to drive in for an appointment.”
“At first, I had some doubts since so much of communication is nonverbal, but I have found that I can create the same rapport over a phone call or video chat. After two years with Cecelia Health, I am a big fan of virtual care!”
“The flexibility of doing a remote position from my home is amazing. I love being able to schedule around appointments, household chores, and my children’s extracurricular activities.”
If you are a CDCES looking for an opportunity to transform the lives of people living with diabetes, visit our careers page for open positions.
References
Davidson P, LaManna J, Davis J, et al. The Effects of Diabetes Self-Management Education on Quality of Life for Persons With Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care. 2022;48(2):111-135. doi:10.1177/26350106211070266
Thinking about Earning the CDCES? Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education. https://www.cbdce.org/
Diabetes Statistics. Diabetes Research Institute. https://www.diabetesresearch.org/diabetes-statistics
2022 Patient Consumer Survey. Jones Lange LaSalle. March 2022. Accessed from: https://www.us.jll.com/en/trends-and-insights/research/2022-patient-consumer-survey