Certified Diabetes Educator Job Description
Certified diabetes educators (CDE) are medical professionals who have extensive training in the area of treating diabetes. Most commonly, someone who is a certified diabetes educator is also a nurse. In this role, an employee will be called on to teach patients about the specifics of the type of diabetes that they have. These specialists may also spend time prescribing medications, teaching patients about lifestyle changes, and monitoring patients’ insulin levels.
Becoming a CDE requires first earning an advanced degree in a medical field like nursing or social work. Then, the candidate must work with diabetes patients for at least two years and complete an additional 15 hours of coursework before they can take their final certification test. CDEs are highly-qualified medical specialists who are capable of providing comprehensive support to patients with diabetes.
Certified Diabetes Educator Job Description Template
We are looking for a skilled certified diabetes educator to join our growing team. In this position, you will teach patients who already have diabetes about their condition and what they can do to improve or manage it. You will also work with patients who are pre-diabetic or otherwise at risk of developing this condition. It will be your job to educate them about diabetes and what they can do to avoid getting it.
To be effective in the role, you will need to have a deep understanding of the medical field’s latest knowledge of diabetes. You will also need to have the communication skills necessary to explain that information to patients who don’t have a medical background. We’d also like for our CDE to have a friendly and compassionate attitude to make our patients feel as comfortable as possible while they’re with us.
Certified Diabetes Educator Responsibilities:
- Work with patients who either already have diabetes or who are at risk for developing it
- Perform diabetes treatment tasks and monitor patients’ progress
- Educate patients and their families about diabetes and how to manage it
- Work with patients to identify and encourage opportunities for lifestyle changes
- Maintain your knowledge of the latest information in the field of diabetes
Certified Diabetes Educator Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing or a related field
- Completion of a formally-recognized diabetes education training program
- Previous experience in a similar role is preferred
- Strong communication skills and an upbeat attitude
- Ability to explain complex medical topics in a way that a patient and their family can understand
Certified Diabetes Educator FAQ
What tasks does a certified diabetes educator do?
CDEs work with patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes. This job requires informing a patient of their medical condition and then working with the patient to address it. CDEs educate their patients about diabetes, perform diabetes treatment tasks, and help patients create plans they can use to deal with their diagnosis moving forward.
Can I use your certified diabetes educator job description template?
Yes, you can absolutely use our template as a starting point for your own. However, it’s usually not a good idea to copy it verbatim because you’ll miss out on the opportunity to differentiate your open CDE position from others, thereby attracting more qualified candidates. That’s why we recommend adding the details of your position that make it unique.
What should I include in my certified diabetes educator help-wanted ads?
We recommend simply following the same framework that we’ve used above. Begin with a compelling opening paragraph or two that describe the job in general terms. Then, include two bulleted lists highlighting the specific responsibilities and requirements of the CDE position.
