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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.
Jessica Jones, MS, RD, CDCES
CEO and Co-founder of Diabetes Digital, a virtual nutrition counseling platform for people 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!
Enroll in our upcoming webinar led by Jessica Jones, MS, RD, CDCES
This session provides healthcare providers with actionable strategies to integrate weight-inclusive care into diabetes management practices, focusing on improving outcomes through respect for body diversity and individual autonomy. Weight stigma is a well-documented barrier to effective care, contributing to poorer glycemic control, disordered eating, and care avoidance. By shifting from a weight-focused approach to one aligned with Health at Every Size (HAES®), providers can foster trust, enhance participant engagement, and support sustainable health behaviors.
Jessica Jones, MS, RD, CDCES, will share evidence-based insights on mitigating weight stigma and applying HAES-aligned strategies in practice. Participants will learn how to build rapport, set realistic nutrition goals, and implement interventions that prioritize blood sugar management, joyful movement, and intuitive eating. This session equips providers with tools to deliver compassionate, person-centered care, improving both clinical outcomes and the provider-participant relationship..
Course topics:
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. Additionally, she co-hosts the Diabetes Digital Podcast, engaging listeners with thoughtful conversations on managing diabetes.
With over a decade of clinical experience, Jessica has contributed significantly to the field through her co-authorship of the “28-Day Plant-Powered Health Reboot” cookbook and “A Diabetes Guide to Enjoying the Foods of the World.” She also wrote the Diabetes Chapter for the Food and Nutrition Care Manual Textbook and regularly shares her insights as a columnist for SELF magazine.
As a co-founder of Food Heaven, an online platform and podcast with more than 5 million downloads, she offers essential resources on cooking, intuitive eating, and embracing body respect. Jessica’s contributions have been celebrated in prominent publications, including Oprah Magazine, Women’s Health, The Food Network Magazine, SELF Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Bon Appetit. She lives in Sacramento, CA with her husband and “spirited” Maltese Shih Tzu puppy, Poppy.
We will award two diabetes educators who provide care and education to under-served communities that lack access to Diabetes Specialists and health care resources. Applicants will be taking their CDCES exam within a year. Each scholarship covers course registration for our Live in San Diego: DiabetesEd Training Conference Registration and 3 nights hotel stay.
*These scholarships cover the course registration fee and 3 nights hotel stay. It does not cover any other expenses incurred by the winners (including travel expenses, food, transportation, etc.). Please consider travel and other costs prior to applying for the scholarship. Each applicant must currently reside within the United States. If you are interested, please click on the button below to complete the scholarship application.
The goal of these scholarships is three-fold:
Flower Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to Diabetes Nurse Educators and is available because of the generous contribution of an anonymous colleague, friend, co-instructor, and mentor. Our donor worked as a Nurse Practitioner and Diabetes Specialist, serving her community, plus mentoring healthcare professionals about diabetes for over 30 years. With the Flower Diabetes Educator Scholarship, she wants to keep investing in the health of our future by supporting future diabetes educators.
“Making a Difference” Scholarship: 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 use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the diabetes certification exams. CBDCE & ADCES does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the certification exams, except for those published by CBDCE & ADCES.
**To satisfy the requirement for renewal of certification by continuing education for the Certification Board for Diabetes Care & Education (CBDCE), continuing education activities must be applicable to diabetes and approved by a provider on the CBDCE List of Recognized Providers (www.ncbde.org). CBDCE does not approve continuing education. Diabetes Education Services is accredited/approved by the Commission of Dietetic Registration which is on the list of CBDCE Recognized Providers.
These scholarships are available due to the generous contribution of diabetes colleagues, friends, co-instructor, and mentors.
Our esteemed donor for the Making a Difference Scholarship, Lonnie, possesses a profound understanding of the challenges that diabetes care and education specialists face in the healthcare setting. As a leader in the field of diabetes management, Lonnie has been championing best care practices at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto for over 30 years. Her role as a certified diabetes educator, trainer, mentor, and advocate is recognized and celebrated by patients and professionals, underscoring the unique value she brings to the cause.
Lonnie’s Vision: Lonnie wants to lift the next generation of diabetes care and education specialists to advocate for under-resourced individuals and fight for evidence-based, compassionate care for ALL people living with diabetes.
A note from Coach Beverly: I met Lonnie over 25 years ago at a conference where I was presenting on diabetes care. Her curiosity and passion for the topic were reflected in her attention, thoughtful questions, and dedication to her community. I invited her to join our live conference team to teach, coordinate, and share her passion and energy for the best diabetes care. She not only rose to the challenge, she surpassed all expectations and became an integral part of our Diabetes Education Services family. Lonnie’s impact on the community is immeasurable. She has mentored and trained over a dozen CDCESs (and hundreds of interns) at Doctors Medical Center, investing in the future of this honorable and essential profession. I am deeply grateful for Lonnie’s years of generous contributions and dedication to ushering in the next generation of diabetes care and education specialists. Thank you, Ms. Lonnie Vaughn, for being such a bright and present light in the world of diabetes care and education.
Our donor for the Flower Scholarship worked as a Nurse Practitioner and Diabetes Specialist, serving her community, plus mentoring healthcare professionals about diabetes for over 30 years.
With the Flower Diabetes Educator Scholarship, she wants to keep investing in the health of our future by supporting future diabetes educators.
Her vision is to increase diversity in the diabetes education workforce by supporting diabetes nurse educators who come from underserved communities. By increasing the number of diabetes educators who represent the population demographics of those living with diabetes, we can make more meaningful connections on an individual and community level while promoting the best care.
The Flower Scholarship is a tribute to our donor’s last name, which translates to flower. The flower is a perfect symbol for this scholarship that aims to support the growth of novice diabetes educators into Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists.
Flowers are a symbol of hope and can be found growing in the most unexpected places, including harsh cities and forgotten spaces. With just a little sunlight and water, they have the ability to thrive in even the most difficult situations and shine their fierce beauty. Given a chance, as these flowers are tended to and nurtured, they grow stronger and brighter, spreading their beauty to new places to give people hope. These resilient flowering seeds perpetuate the opportunity for a future generation of diabetes specialists.
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the diabetes certification exams. CBDCE & ADCES does not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the certification exams, except for those published by CBDCE & ADCES.
**To satisfy the requirement for renewal of certification by continuing education for the Certification Board for Diabetes Care & Education (CBDCE), continuing education activities must be applicable to diabetes and approved by a provider on the CBDCE List of Recognized Providers (www.ncbde.org). CBDCE does not approve continuing education. Diabetes Education Services is accredited/approved by the Commission of Dietetic Registration which is on the list of CBDCE Recognized Providers.
We asked Dr. Susan Guzman (see bio below), lead trainer and clinician in the Embark Trial to share insights on providing the best care to people with diabetes. Learn more by joining our ReVive 5 Diabetes Training Program where the team shares evidence-based tools and the step-by step approach utilized in the Embark Study.
Over time, our research has shown that the best way of helping a person with diabetes is to have them define their challenges and come up with their own goals and strategies. They can learn how to become their own ‘fixers”.
Dr. Guzman
In hindsight, this sounds like the opposite of what we might have expected. With much of our focus on diabetes technology and the use of new and varied medications, all of which are important, it seems we may not be listening to what people are asking for; what their goals and targets are, how they define their problems, what the impact of diabetes on their life has been, and how they want to address these difficulties.
We clinicians are trained as “fixers” and “doers.” We see a problem and we jump to fix it – and in most cases we have the skills and knowledge to do just that. But an exclusive focus on being a “fixer” means an exclusive focus on numbers, targets and mechanisms – we often forget to acknowledge the expertise the person with diabetes brings to the table.
“Over the years of being a diabetes clinician and researcher we have learned to spend more time listening and less time “doing.”
We can get started by encouraging them to identify problems and goals on their terms that are defined by their language. We can help by adding to or modifying the direction they suggest and by providing helpful tools, techniques, and information to reach the goals that they set.
Ultimately, it is the person with diabetes who must make it all work. The key take-away is to move away from being a “fixer” and shift to becoming a “curious coach” by asking the right open-ended questions and really listening to the response.
Reinvisioning our role as a “coach” instead of a “fixer” also enables the clinician to identify the often-hidden underpinnings of barriers and the problematic emotional narratives that drive management difficulties – like feeling like a failure, pounding oneself with self-blame, believing that their glucose levels are unmanageable, feeling like a burden on their family, and feeling hopeless.
How can we expect people to make goals and effectively engage in the complex daily management of diabetes when they are experiencing these burdensome feelings and thoughts?
By addressing concerns and helping with the specifics of diabetes management problems while seeing the whole person in their life context (person-centered care), we can help people with diabetes discover that they are truly their own best fixer.
Listen to Susan address a new innovative approach to diabetes distress by joining our ReVive 5 Program.
ReVive 5 Diabetes Training Program Expert Faculty
Susan Guzman, PhD is passionate about helping to change the conversations in diabetes away from shame, blame and judgment to those based on facts, empathy, and engagement. She has been part of a joint ADA/ADCES effort to address problematic language and messages in diabetes.
Dr. Guzman is a clinical psychologist specializing in diabetes. In 2003, Dr. Guzman co-founded the Behavioral Diabetes Institute (BDI), the first non-profit organization devoted to the emotional and behavioral aspects of living with diabetes.
At BDI, she serves as the Director of Clinical Education, developing and leading programs for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals. She has helped develop and facilitates diabetes distress group interventions for two NIH-funded research studies for adults with type 1 diabetes.
This two-session training provides the essential steps to address diabetes distress combined with an innovative approach to helping people make sense of their glucose data.
The first session is team-taught by experts in the field of diabetes distress and effective communication approaches. Dr. Larry Fisher kicks off the program by describing the difference between depression and distress and interpreting Diabetes Distress screening results. Dr. Susan Guzman uses a case study approach and step-by-step communication strategies to address responses from the Diabetes Distress screening tool. This session includes an abundance of evidence-based approaches that you can apply in your clinical setting.
Coach Beverly leads the second session. During this three-hour program, Beverly describes insulin dosing strategies, meter and sensor data interpretation, and common issues encountered by people using diabetes technology. Case studies include tools to help individuals discover what changes are needed to get glucose to target, coupled with the communication skills discussed in the first session. In conclusion, the team of instructors review a case study that pulls together all the ReVive 5 elements.
Can’t join live? That’s okay. Your registration guarantees you access to the recorded version of the series, along with podcasts and resources for one full year.
Accredited Training Program:
Team of Experts:
ReVive 5 is taught by a team of 3 Interdisciplinary Experts:
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.
Attending the national ADCES meeting in Houston, Texas, in August was special for me this year. I had a great time presenting on a topic near and dear to my heart: Strategies to Revitalize your Diabetes Program or Business.
This legacy talk allowed me to share actions to innovate, revitalize, and kick-start programs and projects that I have implemented in my practice settings and communities over the past 30 years.
In addition to presenting, I met new diabetes advocates and educators from across the United States, I had the opportunity to connect with old friends, catch up, and share hugs! I also took lots of notes on the presentations, ranging from therapy to stop the progression of type 1 diabetes to the co-relationship between mental health and diabetes.
To celebrate 25 years as the CEO of Diabetes Education Services and 30 years of specializing in diabetes, I am excited to offer my ADCES presentation, Strategies to Revitalize your Diabetes Program or Business for FREE on September 28th at 11:30 am PST. If you are starting a diabetes self-management program or want to revitalize your current practice, we invite you to join this one-hour webinar full of practical tips on advocating for the best health care in a variety of practice settings.
In addition, we will be discussing successful marketing strategies that work. We know that less than ten percent of people with diabetes attend a Diabetes Self-Management Program or see a registered dietitian. Yet, there is ample evidence that people with diabetes experience improved outcomes when receiving DSMES. Plus, the ADA recommends that all people with diabetes receive MNT and DSME regularly. As diabetes healthcare professionals, we need to actively close this gap and increase participant engagement within our communities.
My youngest son, Jackson, became a part-time employee for my company when he turned eight. Along with this older brother, he helped package DiaBingo kits, stuff, and stamp envelopes, assemble PocketCards, and choose Pancreas Partner color combinations. As Jackson entered his teen years, his contributions moved from simple assembly to innovation. Given his longstanding knowledge of our company goals, values, and community, he suggested changes that helped grow our social media presence and increase our connection with readers.
Over this past summer, in addition to answering customer questions, shipping out orders, and assembling our Pancreas Partners (see pictures), Jackson took a leadership role in creating our new Podcast offerings. He researched the best podcast platforms for our FREE webinars. By the end of summer, due to his vision and hard work, we launched all of our FREE Podcasts on the most popular platforms (such as Spotify, Amazon Music, Castbox, and Google Podcast).
Even though Jackson had an intense high school schedule due to his load of AP classes, running the Empowerment Club, playing in the jazz and marching bands, and taking the lead as Drum Major, he always showed up to work with a great attitude. During stressful periods at work, he managed to help me laugh, take a deep breath, and keep moving forward. He has a magical way of listening carefully, giving a hug, then gifting me with a goofy gesture that broke the tension and helped me regain a sense of calm.
Jackson fell in love with chemistry as a sophomore in high school. He was awarded a summer chemistry lab internship during his junior summer at a local Cal State University. As a full-time researcher for a few months, he said, “I feel like I have always been in the chemistry lab.” A few weeks ago, he kicked off his studies at UC Berkeley as a chemistry major and he is loving every minute of it.
I sure miss working alongside Jackson and goofing around with him. Yet, at the same time, I celebrate his new and exciting life while cheering him on from the sidelines. I am grateful for the time we spent together creating and exploring life and work from different angles and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!
As part of his legacy, Jackson recommended a close high school friend, named Ginger Nichols, to take over his job responsibilities. Ginger is a real go-getter and an absolute gem of a human. In addition to attending college full-time, she has a radio show, works another job, is involved in local theater, and has a terrific attitude. When I ask her how she is doing, she always responds, ‘I am doing great” and she means it!
Thank you Jackson for all your contributions to Diabetes Education Services over the years! We miss you and are so thankful that Ginger will be holding up your legacy of hard work and a great attitude combined with a boatload of kindness.
Explaining the pathophysiology of diabetes is no easy task. These fun and effective educational tools help you explain normal fuel metabolism and the defects associated with type 2 diabetes.
In addition, they can be used to motivate patients to lower blood glucose levels through diet, exercise, and medications.
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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.
We are living longer & more people are getting diabetes. The American Diabetes Association has updated the Older Adults Standards, with special attention to considering the reduction of medication & insulin therapy intensity. The older population has unique issues & special needs that require consideration as we provide diabetes self-management education. This online course highlights key areas of assessment, intervention, and advocacy for older clients living with diabetes.
Objectives:
Intended Audience: An important course for healthcare professionals seeking to gain an understanding of the special issues and goals for older adults.
Don’t worry if you can’t make it live. Your registration guarantees access to the recorded version in the Online University.
All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information
This course includes updated goals & guidelines for children living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This course discusses the special issues diabetes educators need to be aware of when working with children with diabetes & their families. We discuss the clinical presentation of diabetes, goals of care, & normal growth & development through the early years through adolescence. Strategies to prevent acute & long-term complications are included with an emphasis on positive coping for families & children with diabetes.
Objectives:
Intended Audience: A great course for healthcare professionals seeking information about providing care for children with diabetes and their families.
Don’t worry if you can’t make it live. Your registration guarantees access to the recorded version in the Online University.
All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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.
This course will transform your test anxiety into calm self-confidence and test-taking readiness.
She will also review sample test questions and the reasoning behind choosing the right answers. We hope you can join us.
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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.
The ADA Standards serve as the definitive clinical handbook for diabetes care professionals. We rely on it to provide evidence-based guidelines and promote best practices.
Have you ever wondered who reviews and updates these standards every year? It is a group of expert ADA member volunteers who are hand-picked based on their extensive knowledge and contributions to the field of diabetes. They dedicate hundreds of hours to this important task and we are very grateful for their hard work and careful review.
Below is a list of the 21 authors for the Standards of Care and ninth on the list is our esteemed guest speaker at our Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference in April 26-28, 2023.
Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, BCACP, CDCES presents for the Virtual Conference for two full days (April 26 & 27th), walking participants through the nitty gritty of the standards, with an effortless fluidity while summarizing key points in the most understandable terms.
On the first day of the Virtual Conference, Dr. Diana Isaacs and Coach Beverly Thomassian tag-team through the 17 ADA Standards, adding in clinical insights, case studies, and plenty of poll questions to test your knowledge in real-time!
On the second day of the Virtual Conference, Diana does a wonderful show and tell demonstrating insulin delivery devices, pumps and CGMs and other gadgets. Plus, she just returned from the International Technology Conference and has lots of exciting updates to share with all of you.
Day 1 – Topics covered by Dr. Diana Isaacs
Day 2 – Topics covered by Dr. Diana Isaacs
Your team is invited to our Virtual DiabetesEd™ Training Conference! Set your team apart and prepare for diabetes certification!
Join this state-of-the-art conference taught by content experts, Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDCES, Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM, and Ashley LaBrier who are passionate about improving diabetes care.
Group discounts are available!*
All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information
Many of you have requested to set up payment plans for your orders and we have found a great solution for this! During checkout, on the payment page, you can now select “Shop Pay” to pay in 3 installments instead of just one payment.
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the CDCES exam. CBDCE does not endorse any preparator