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Have you ever left a medical appointment thinking, “I wish I had asked that question,” or “I wish someone really understood what this feels like”?
Managing type 2 diabetes is not just about numbers. It is about decisions. Emotions. Responsibilities. Fatigue. Food. Family. And sometimes feeling like you are carrying all of it alone.
That is why Coach Beverly and DiabetesSisters are proud to launch a new chapter in diabetes support on the West Coast!
Coach Beverly has been a nurse for 40 years and a diabetes specialist for 30. For two decades, she led a hospital-based diabetes support group that became a trusted space for women to gather, learn, and feel understood.
Now, she is bringing that experience to a new West Coast Type 2 Diabetes Support Group with DiabetesSisters.
What drew her to diabetes care was not only the science but the opportunity to make a difference in how women experience living with this condition.
She noticed that many conversations focused on what was not working. Very few recognized the daily effort required to manage a condition no one asked for.
She believes women deserve more than instruction. They deserve encouragement.
As she often reminds participants:
You are already doing more than you think.
This new diabetes support program on the West Coast is built around something simple and powerful: connection.
When women gather in Coach Beverly’s group, they talk about the realities of living with type 2 diabetes, including:
One woman shares something she has never said out loud. Another nods in recognition. And just like that, isolation begins to soften.
Peer support has been shown to strengthen confidence and encourage meaningful behavior change. Our 2024 survey data show that 90 percent of participants felt confident making behavioral changes, and 88 percent felt confident taking steps to support their diabetes management.
But beyond the numbers, there is something deeply human about being seen.
As one participant shared: “I feel so much more connected and less alone in my diabetes journey through the monthly meetings. DiabetesSisters is an amazing resource and community.”
That is the experience this new West Coast program is creating.
Because this is a new program on the West Coast, you have the opportunity to join from the very beginning.
At your first session, you can expect:
At the end of each meeting, you may choose one small, realistic commitment to focus on before the next session. Not a complete life overhaul. Just one doable step.
This is not about perfection. It is about progress. It is about living well while managing diabetes.
If you are a healthcare professional, this new diabetes support program on the West Coast offers an additional layer of care for women living with diabetes.
Diabetes management does not end in the exam room. Women benefit from structured peer support that addresses emotional health, daily decision-making, and lived experience.
Coach Beverly’s group complements clinical care and reinforces self-management behaviors. We welcome referrals for women living with type 2 diabetes who may benefit from additional support.
If you are living with type 2 diabetes and wondering whether this new group is for you, Coach Beverly has a simple invitation:
Come once.
And there is a seat waiting for you.
Join national experts including Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Beverly Thomassian (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig for high-impact, virtual learning—no travel required.
✔ Learn from National Experts — Anywhere
Get the same expert-level instruction you’d receive in person, delivered live to your home or office.
✔ Interactive & Flexible
Walk away with tools you can apply immediately in clinical practice or while preparing for CDCES or BC-ADM exams. From insulin dosing protocols to behavior change strategies that work in the real world—this content bridges theory & practice.
Featured Articles & Announcements ___________________________ |
Webinars & Programs
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March is National Nutrition Month, and I love the core of this year’s theme, “Discover the Power of Nutrition.” Nutrition does have the power to help individuals and communities thrive, especially our cherished community of people with prediabetes and diabetes.
This month, we recognize the impact that nutrition and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) make on people’s lives. All of us have been asked, “Just tell me what I can eat.” We share the basics with our clients and then refer them to our trusted and knowledgeable RDN colleagues, who expertly guide them through medical nutrition therapy and create customized meal plans that encourage folks to “maintain the pleasure of eating”.
In our first article, Christine Craig, MS, RDN, CDCES, explores the role and real impact of RDNs in a variety of settings. Ms. Craig also recognizes that we need to keep inviting people with diabetes to meet with dietitians, as MNT can lower A1C levels by 0.3 – 2%.
Explore our Carb Counting Made Easy Resource Page, featuring handouts, links, and our most frequently requested resources.
Coach Bev provides straightforward strategies (and a New Worksheet) that outline the steps to provide judgment-free coaching to the people in your care. Please, share this worksheet with your colleagues and let us know what you think!
Have you had people with diabetes ask you if those glucose watches really work? Me too! Dr. Beattie discusses which devices are approved for glucose sensing and which are not.
Diabetes Sisters and Coach Bev have teamed up to offer a virtual support group on the West Coast. Thank you in advance for sharing this resource with your clients.
Test your knowledge with a quiz that boldly broaches the topic of Pancreatic Parasites.
Lastly, we heard you! We moved up the dates of our CDCES and BC-ADM Bundles, so you have more time to prepare for exam success.
Celebrating the power of nutrition and RDNs!
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Astraea & Katarina
Join national experts including Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Beverly Thomassian (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig for high-impact, 🖥️ virtual learning—no travel required.
✔ Learn from National Experts — Anywhere
Get the same expert-level instruction you’d receive in person, delivered live to your home or office.
✔ Interactive & Flexible
Walk away with tools you can apply immediately in clinical practice or while preparing for CDCES or BC-ADM exams. From insulin dosing 💉 protocols to behavior change strategies that work in the real world—this content bridges theory and practice. 🏫
Set Yourself Up For Certification Success!
Course credits through AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!
Full accreditation details are available on the registration page
You are going to love the CDCES Boot Camp Online Prep Bundle. We update this comprehensive, high-impact program each year with new material, aimed specifically for healthcare professionals preparing to pass the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam and level-up their knowledge.
You can kick-start your dream of achieving your BC-ADM starting today. Our evidence-based study bundle is a comprehensive BC-ADM Boot Camp designed for advanced-level healthcare professionals preparing for the Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management exam. The content also provide you with state-of-the-art information to level up your clinical practice.
Enjoy this poem by Coach Bev that summarizes steps to achieve diabetes certification success in 53 seconds!
Get Ready for Diabetes Certification Success
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We know you’re excited to take your certification exam — and we want you to walk in feeling confident, calm, and completely prepared. 🖥️ To make sure you have the content you need, we have moved up the dates for our Level 3 and Level 4 live courses by a few months. We will complete Level 3 live course updates by April 30th and Level 4 updates will wrap up by June 20th. 📆Download Boot Camp flyers for complete date listings. |
We are always keeping you in mind! All of our accredited content is person-focused and evidence-based. Plus, we make sure you have fun and feel engaged during our programs. |
To prepare for your CDCES, we recommend enrolling in our CDCES Boot Camp, which includes:
✔ Level 1 – Fundamentals (2026) Recorded and ready for immediate viewing. Build your foundation and master the core concepts.
✔ Level 2 – ADA Standards Intensive 2026. Live throughout February and March. We break down the Standards of Care so they actually make sense — and stick.
✔ Level 3 – Final Exam Prep Mastery. Originally scheduled for June… but you told us that was too late. We heard you.
Level 3 now begins in March and runs through April 30th — giving you earlier access to focused exam mastery and test-taking strategy.
⬇️Download CDCES Boot Camp Flyer with New 2026 Dates!
This is your CDCES step-by-step path: Level 1 → Level 2 → Level 3. From fundamentals to final confidence 🏆.
To prepare for your BC-ADM, we recommend enrolling in our BC-ADM Boot Camp, which includes:
✔ Level 2 – ADA Standards Intensive 2026.
✔ Level 3 – Final Exam Prep Mastery. Begins in March and runs through April 30th.
✔ Level 4 – Final Exam Prep Mastery. Begins in April and runs through June 20th.
⬇️ Download BC-ADM Boot Camp Flyer with New 2026 Dates
This is your BC-ADM step-by-step path: Level 2 → Level 3 → Level 4. From Standards to advanced to final confidence 🏆.
You are the reason that diabetes care gets better.
We appreciate your hard work, advocacy, and the care you give every day!
💜Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Astraea, and Katarina
Get exam-ready with confidence.
Course credits through AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!
Full accreditation details are available on the registration page
Our CDCES Boot Camp Online Prep Bundle is a comprehensive, high-impact program built specifically for healthcare professionals preparing for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam who want to level up their clinical knowledge and skills.
This evidence-based study bundle is a comprehensive BC-ADM Boot Camp designed for advanced-level healthcare professionals preparing for the Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) exam and will also provide you with state-of-the-art information to level up your clinical practice.
Join national experts including Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Beverly Thomassian (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig for high-impact, virtual learning—no travel required.
✔ Learn from National Experts — Anywhere
Get the same expert-level instruction you’d receive in person, delivered live to your home or office.
✔ Interactive & Flexible
Walk away with tools you can apply immediately in clinical practice or while preparing for CDCES or BC-ADM exams. From insulin dosing protocols to behavior change strategies that work in the real world—this content bridges theory & practice.
Announcements
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Healing through Connection for Healthcare Professionals is available in:
Like me, I am sure you have experienced moments of intense frustration when you wanted to scream or give up!
Maybe you had to show up when you were emotionally spent and felt like you had nothing else to give.
I see you and I celebrate you—the hardworking healthcare professional who shows up day after day with heart and courage. In my book, Healing through Connection, I honor your journey and share strategies to help you care for your own well-being as you care for others.
Join a Virtual Conversation and Interview with Coach Bev on Feb 20th at 11:30am PST to delve into the healing power of creative endeavors.
If you can’t make the interview, enjoy this excerpt from Chapter 6, that dives into the Healing Power of Self-Expression and encourages you to dive into your creativity for healing, rejuvenation, and pure JOY.
Even if you can only commit to engaging creativity for a few minutes or half an hour a week, it makes a difference. Stop thinking about all the reasons you can’t do it, and instead, listen to that internal hum, get in the metaphorical car, turn on the ignition, and drive.
Within you lives a quiet, creative spark waiting for attention and care. When you tend to it, you renew your capacity to show up with presence, compassion, and strength, for yourself and for those in your care.
Healing through Connection is both a reminder and a roadmap; an invitation to care for yourself with the same compassion you offer others. It provides a rare perspective on mutual healing.
As we heal ourselves, we expand our capacity to help others with healing. Within the pages of this book, you’ll find a toolbox for exploring your truth, tapping into your emotions, and cultivating creativity. Together, we’ll explore the often-overlooked connection between your own lived experiences and those of the individuals in your care.
Continue reading to discover how making time for creative expression might offer you some unexpected benefits and opportunities for joy!
Did you know that Nobel Prize recipients are nearly three times more likely to engage in creative hobbies than their scientific counterparts?
Theoretical physicist Albert Einstein often played the violin when he encountered challenges in his theoretical work. He believed that music helped him think creatively and tap into his subconscious, enabling breakthroughs such as the theory of relativity.
Marie Curie, a two-time Nobel laureate for physics in 1903 and chemistry in 1911, went for frequent walks in the countryside, which allowed her to reflect and rejuvenate. These moments of tranquility likely helped her maintain focus during the grueling work of isolating radioactive elements.
It’s because they’re simply more open to having hobbies. They are more open to novel experiences and often turn to their creative endeavors when working through challenges. These seemingly unrelated scientific pursuits and personal hobbies can open doors for scientists to crosspollinate ideas across different fields, enabling them to gain fresh perspectives and uncover new insights.
Now, you may not be working toward securing the title of a Nobel laureate. Still, you might be interested in learning the secrets of expanding your mind, creating new connections, and better integrating the two sides of your brain hemispheres to provide better care or nurture your inner life.
You may be wondering how having an artistic hobby or winning a Nobel Prize in science relates to excelling as a diabetes specialist or healthcare professional. As a healthcare professional, you have likely lived through difficult experiences or witnessed profound suffering firsthand.
Plenty of science supports the idea that engaging in creative pursuits offers an outlet to express complex emotions that are not accessible through words alone.
The act of playing an instrument, taking an art class, exploring nature, or playing the bongo drums may provide a gateway to address unrequited trauma or pain, helping you to become more fully aware and present with your feelings. Did you have a childhood or adult hobby you loved doing? One that made you lose track of time as you entered the zone referred to as “flow”? Have you given yourself permission to make time for that hobby and lose yourself in that creative process?
You may want to take a ceramics or writing class, join the local choir, or start a band. Perhaps you found an old camera and want to learn more about photography or realized you’re good at painting. It can be hard to start as a beginner and potentially look silly or unskilled.
Here’s my advice: Let go of those sky-high expectations. No one expects you to paint like Monet in your first art class.
My motto is, if something makes me uncomfortable, I know I’m in the right place—because that’s where growth happens.
I encourage you to take that leap of faith and tolerate the momentary discomfort for long-term gain. It gets better, and before you know it, you will blossom in ways you never expected.
Download this worksheet to explore 20 creative endeavors that may spark inspiration within you. You may already be practicing some of these—or perhaps you have new ideas to add. Wonderful—keep going!
As a dance teacher for the past twenty years who can still balance a sword on her head, I am reminded every day that it is never too late to rediscover your joy.
Coach Beverly is honored to invite you to this special gathering and intimate conversation. During this virtual book launch, a special guest interviewer will join Coach Bev for a heartfelt conversation about why this book matters now and the real stories from clinical practice that inspired it.
Coach Bev will also share the personal journey of writing Healing through Connection and how she discovered her voice along the way. We will conclude with an interactive question-and-answer session and allow time for connection.
Come celebrate connection, healing, and the power of story as we honor the shared human experience at the heart of healthcare.
Thank you for YOUR support and commitment to promoting healing and connection every day!
We are geared up to help grow and mentor future Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) to meet the increasing and varied needs of our diabetes community.
We are offering 14 Bridge Scholarships, which cover the registration cost for our “Virtual DiabetesEd Conference” on April 15-17, 2026. This program will provide you with diabetes fundamentals and beyond! Earn 30+ CEs with access to the courses for one year!
Over the next 10 years we are “Building a Bridge” to welcome a thousand new diabetes educators into the field. If you know a healthcare professional seeking a new challenge and eager to pursue a meaningful and rewarding specialty, please invite them to consider becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES).
Diabetes Education Services is committed to improving equity and access to diabetes training and education for a diverse group of healthcare professionals. We don’t want financial barriers to stop anyone from attending this conference. In appreciation of those who are role models and advocates for practicing the best diabetes care in their communities.
The Bridge Scholarship program is not just about learning—it’s about creating connections, fostering growth and building a community of passionate diabetes care professionals. We are excited to offer this incredible opportunity to those who are committed to advancing their skills and knowledge in diabetes education. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those living with diabetes.
These scholarships are awarded to healthcare professionals who provide care and education to under-served communities that lack access to Diabetes Specialists and healthcare resources. Applicants must be in the process of gaining practice hours and planning to take their CDCES Exam within the next 3 years.
Gain fresh insights, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of the latest in person-centered diabetes care. Our expert team brings the ADA Standards of Care to life—covering medications, behavior change, technology, and more!
If you’re preparing for the CDCES or BC-ADM exam, this conference, paired with a handful of free bonus courses, serves as the ideal study companion! Plus, this content counts toward the ADA Standards requirements for CDCES Renewal.
Join us this January for 2025 Level 1 courses! This bundle is specifically designed for healthcare professionals who want to learn more about diabetes fundamentals for their clinical practice or for those who are studying for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam.
In each webinar, our instructors highlight the critical content of each topic area so you can focus your study time most efficiently. They also launches multiple poll questions that highlight key concepts to help students assess their knowledge and learn the best test-taking strategies.
Each individual online course includes a: video presentation, podcast, practice test, and additional resources. After purchase, you have immediate access to your courses for 1 full year. Download Level 1 Flyer here for schedule.
You are invited to join Coach Beverly for this FREE Webinar Jan. 13th, 2025 @ 11:30am PST. In this webinar, Beverly will take you through 20 sample questions from our Test Taking Toolkit, explaining the answers and the rationale behind each one.
Enrolling is simple! Register for free and get 20 sample questions with rationales, or gain instant access to 200+ practice questions by purchasing our Test Taking Toolkit for $49. Take advantage of this affordable and comprehensive preparation tool and get one step closer to exam success! Don’t leave your success to chance – prepare with this FREE webinar and be ready to tackle your exam with confidence.
We hope to see you there.
As diabetes technology is becoming commonplace in our practice, figuring out how to make sense of all the data can seem overwhelming. Join Diana Issacs and Coach Beverly for a truly unique learning experience.
Dr. Isaacs has a special knack for breaking down the essential elements of the Ambulatory Glucose Profile (AGP) report to provide participants with a clear road map for data interpretation. She includes many sample practice cases utilizing CGM data for various types of people with diabetes including type 2 and people with type 1 not on pumps. Coach Beverly will build on Dr. Isaacss’ presentation and switch the focus to the person living with diabetes. Using a case study approach, she will provide strategies to integrate the AGP with person-centered care that empowers individuals to experience increased confidence in their diabetes self-management.
5 reasons you need to attend this course.
Register today and take the next step toward becoming a more effective and informed diabetes care provider.
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the certification exam. CBDCE and ADCES do not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES or BC-ADM exams, except for those published by CBDCE & ADCES.
Over one hundred years ago, two researchers kick-started the production of insulin, making it available for worldwide use and saving millions of lives. Now, that’s a real cause for celebration. The discovery of insulin by Banting, Best, and team was no easy feat. They encountered resistance, setbacks, and failures.
Dr. Banting secured space to test out his theory at the University of Toronto during a hot summer in 1921.
Along with his colleague, Charles Best, and a bare-bones lab, they conducted dozens of experiments on dogs. Marjorie (dog 408) lived for 70 days without a pancreas due to receiving life-saving insulin injections.
This success was replicated in other experimental dogs and ultimately provided the first step toward producing insulin from pig and cow pancreases.
In 1922, children with type 1 diabetes started receiving early doses of this newly available life-saving hormone. Leonard Thompson, was the first recipient in January 1922, followed by many thereafter. Here is a heartbreaking then uplifting photo of J.L., who after 2 months of receiving insulin, transformed into a healthy young boy.
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Accreditation: Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002. Since these programs are approved by the CDR it satisfies the CE requirements for the CDCES regardless of your profession.*
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the CDCES exam. CBDCE does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES exam, except for those published by CBDCE.
Jessica Jones, MS, RDN, CDCES, is a nationally recognized Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist committed to making nutrition education accessible to everyone. As the CEO and co-founder of Diabetes Digital, Jessica has been pivotal in developing an innovative telehealth platform that provides tailored nutrition counseling for individuals with diabetes and prediabetes.
My approach to medical nutrition therapy is all about centering the individual—because they’re the experts on their own life! My job is to support them and offer practical tools for whatever they’re navigating. Instead of laying down a list of what someone “should” do, I always ask if I can share information and then work with them to figure out the next best (and realistic!) step. And if someone isn’t sure where to start, I’ll give them a menu of options so they can decide what feels doable.
I’m also a big fan of motivational interviewing, using things like reflecting and rolling with resistance to help people tap into their own inner drive.
As a Black dietitian, I strongly advocate for cultural humility in healthcare. I love working with diverse communities and learning about different foods and traditions. It’s important that people feel empowered to include their favorite cultural foods in ways that support their health without losing the joy and connection that food brings to their lives. I also practice from a Health at Every Size (HAES) perspective because everyone deserves access to healthcare, the opportunity to pursue health, and to be treated with respect—no matter their size.
I focus on building a healthy relationship with food by encouraging intuitive eating and body respect.
Honestly, I never thought I had a shot at becoming a CDCES until about ten years ago when Beverly gave an in-service at my job and taught us about diabetes. I still remember the stuffed pancreas toy that she used to demonstrate beta cell destruction. After her talk, I chatted with my supervisor and realized that my work at my primary care clinic counted towards my CDCES hours. Most of the people we served had a history of diabetes or prediabetes, and I was already providing counseling and sharing tips to help improve A1Cs.
Once I completed the required hours and my supervisor signed off, I signed up for Beverly’s DiabetesEd 3-day live training program in Carmel, California. As a dietitian, I was so nervous and intimidated by all the diabetes medications and insulin. But that course gave me all the tools I needed and helped me focus on what to study.
I was thrilled to pass the exam on my first try in 2016.
Since then, I’ve worked in various settings with countless individuals. The joy of seeing them improve their health, lower their A1c, and build a healthy relationship with food has been the one of the most fulfilling parts of my journey.
Wendy Lopez and I started our companies because we saw a huge gap in how people, especially those from diverse backgrounds, were being supported around their health. We’re both dietitians (MS, RD, CDCES) with over 20 years of combined experience, and we’ve worked in all sorts of settings—UCSF, NYC Department of Health, Alameda Health System, Columbia/New York Presbyterian—you name it.
Through all of this, we kept seeing the same issues: outdated, one-size-fits-all advice that often wasn’t culturally relevant and sometimes even pushed people toward disordered eating patterns.
About 12 years ago, we decided to change the narrative by creating Food Heaven—a platform where wellness meets social justice. With Food Heaven, we’ve reached millions, breaking down how food, culture, and health are deeply connected and showing that there’s more than one way to be healthy. But as we continued our work and our audience grew, we felt a pull to go deeper into our roots in diabetes education and provide even more focused support for those living with diabetes.
That’s how Diabetes Digital came to life. With Diabetes Digital, we wanted to create an accessible space where diabetes care helps people thrive—not just manage numbers. We offer 1:1 diabetes nutrition counseling (covered by insurance!) through our team of diverse registered dietitians who are not only experts in diabetes care but also committed to culturally inclusive, weight-inclusive, and person-centered approaches.
How much time do we have? Because I have a lot of hobbies and I definitely live to eat! My favorite food is Eritrean/Ethiopian cuisine—lucky for me, I married an Eritrean man! His mom is an amazing cook and often sends us home with delicious leftovers like homemade Injera, Shiro (chickpeas), Hamli (greens), and Timtimo (lentils).
As for hobbies, I’m currently doing improv, which is absolutely terrifying, but I’m doing it anyway—that’s my motto for my 40s! I also recently took a stand-up comedy course and performed a 7-minute routine at a comedy club… in front of a live audience. (Hey, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?) Besides that, I love anything related to real estate, home decor, gardening, travel, and animals. My dream career is to be a dog sitter, and hopefully, I will get there in retirement!
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the certification exam. CBDCE and ADCES do not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES or BC-ADM exams, except for those published by CBDCE & ADCES.
