Top Reasons to See a Diabetes Education and Care Specialist
Diabetes is a complex and challenging disease that requires daily self-management decisions made by the person with diabetes. Diabetes requires hundreds of extra decisions throughout the day such as making healthier choices, increasing activity, managing low high and low blood sugars. A Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) can help assist making and building upon new habits to keep you healthy throughout your journey.
At Initial Diagnosis of Diabetes
For an individual and family, the diagnosis of diabetes (type 1 or type 2) is often overwhelming with fears, anger, myths, and personal, family, and life circumstances influencing this reaction. A referral from your provider can initiate immediate care with a CDCES addresses these concerns through listening, providing emotional support, and answering questions.
Annually
Diabetes does not take any vacation days and there will be ups and downs with diabetes management as life continues to happen. Many people with diabetes find sustaining these behaviors difficult. Lean into your CDCES for additional support during these difficult times. Possible barriers to achieving treatment goals, such as financial and psychosocial issues, life stresses, diabetes-related distress, fears, side effects of medications, misinformation, cultural barriers, or misperceptions. Multiple visits over the year may be needed when the individual is starting a new diabetes medication such as insulin or is experiencing unexplained low or high blood sugar.
When Complicating Factors Develop
Diabetes-related complications or other individual factors that may influence self-management of diabetes should be considered a critical indicator in which a Diabetes Educator can help provide adequate resources. These factors may affect an individual’s ability to manage their diabetes and may involve additional medications, new physical limitations, and/or new emotional needs. Examples could include a new diagnosis of renal disease or visual impairment, starting steroids, planning pregnancy, and/or psychosocial factors such as depression and anxiety.
When Transitions in Life Occur
Throughout the life span many factors such as aging, living situation, schedule changes, or health insurance coverage may require a re-evaluation of diabetes treatment needs. Critical transition periods may include transitioning into adulthood, living on one’s own, hospitalization, and moving into an assisted living or skilled nursing facility, correctional facility, or rehabilitation center. They may also include life milestones: marriage, divorce, becoming a parent, moving, death of a loved one, starting or completing college, loss of employment, starting a new job, retirement, and other life circumstances. Changing health care providers can also be a time at which additional support is needed.
The Diabetes Wellness Center is here to support your or a loved one throughout the span of your diabetes journey. We can help people with diabetes, prediabetes and cardiometabolic conditions. This trusted team of diabetes educators lead programs to help patients learn about the disease and how to manage it on a daily basis- no matter where you are at in your journey.
The ECHN Diabetes Wellness center is currently providing telehealth for all consultations with a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Our team will work with you to develop a plan and provide the tools you need to manage diabetes daily. Ask for a referral to a CDCES today and during the transitions of important life stages. Call 860.647.6824 to set up an appointment.
