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You’re invited – FREE Prep for BC-ADM Exam Webinar on April 6th

Starting your journey to becoming a BC-ADM? Our FREE Webinar

Preparing for the BC-ADM Exam

Airs live on Thursday, April 6th at 11:30 am PST for our

This course will transform your test anxiety into calm self-confidence and test-taking readiness.

Preparing for the BC-ADM Exam Webinar Topics

  • exam eligibility and test format,
  • strategies to succeed
  • study tips and test-taking tactics

She will also review sample test questions and the reasoning behind choosing the right answers. We hope you can join us.

Can’t join us live?
Don’t worry, we will send you a link to the recorded version.

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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.

ADA Contributor, Diana Isaacs, Presents at our Virtual Conference

Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, BCACP, CDCES – Expert Speaker for Virtual Conference

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.

What topics does Dr. Diana Isaacs present during the Virtual Conference?

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

  • Medications to Treat Type 2
  • How to use Medication Algorithms
  • Pregnancy glucose goals
  • Treatment of Hypoglycemia
  • New Cardiovascular and Renal Guidelines
  • New medications reduce Cardiorenal risk

Day 2 – Topics covered by Dr. Diana Isaacs

  • Insulin Insights and key points
  • Solving pattern management mysteries
  • Insulin dosing for carbs and hyperglycemia
  • Understanding ambulatory glucose profile
  • Insulin pump options
  • Continuous glucose monitors
  • Insulin delivery devices

Join Dr. Diana Isaacs at our
Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference

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


Now introducing payment plans!

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.


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The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the CDCES exam. CBDCE does not endorse any preparator

You’re invited – Prep for CDCES Exam FREE Webinar | Tues., January 31st

Starting your journey to becoming a CDCES?

Join us live Tuesday, January 31st at 11:30 am PST for our

Preparing for the CDCES Exam FREE Webinar

This course will transform your test anxiety into calm self-confidence and test-taking readiness.

Preparing for the CDCES Exam Webinar Topics

  • Exam requirement updates for 2023.
  • Exam eligibility and test format
  • Strategies to succeed along with a review of study tips and test-taking tactics.
  • We will review sample test questions and the reasoning behind choosing the right answers.
  • Learn how to focus your time and prepare to take the CDCES Exam. We provide plenty of sample test questions and test-taking tips!
Can’t join us live?
Don’t worry, we will send you a link to the recorded version.

Becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) is one of the best professional and personal decisions I have ever made.” – Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM

 


Studying for the CDCES? Enroll in our

CDCES Deluxe Prep Bundle | 30+ Online Courses + Bonus Items | 47 CEs

Beverly has custom-designed this course bundle to prepare you for your CDCES Exam. This bundle includes our CDCES Online Prep Bundle (featured above) plus the ADCES (formerly AADE) Review Guide – 5th Edition – Revised. This bundle includes Levels 1 through 3 (AKA Boot Camp), toolkits, plus the ADCES Review Guide.

Included in this bundle is:

  • Level 1 focuses on the fundamentals and introduces each topic area for the exam.
  • Level 2 deep dives into the ADA Standards of Care, 
  • Level 3 AKA Boot Camp is a more accelerated level that focuses on test simulation for finding the best answer to get you to the finish line of your study path.
  • Technology Toolkit which gives information on pumps, sensors, and calculations,
  • Test Taking Toolkit includes over 220 practice questions for test simulation plus a webinar where Coach Beverly provides test-taking tips based on her experience taking the certification exam six times. 
  • ADCES Review Guide for the Diabetes Care and Education Specialist Exam – 5th Edition – Revised – The ADCES Review Guide is a fantastic independent study tool and comprehensive resource for the Diabetes Care and Education Specialist Exam. This book includes 480 + multiple-choice questions and strategies for preparing for and taking the exam with an answer key with rationales for all questions! 
  • Medication PocketCard – Our four-sided medication accordion Pocketcards were designed by Coach Beverly Thomassian to assist in clinical practice and exam preparation.
  • Tote Bag

 


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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.

Rationale of the Week | What is the Right LDL Target for RZ?

For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on what is the right LDL target. 37% of respondents chose the best answer. We want to clarify and share this important information, so you can pass it on to people living with diabetes and your colleagues, plus prepare for exam success!

Before we start though, if you don’t want any spoilers and haven’t tried the question yet, you can answer it below: Answer Question

Question:

RZ is 47 years old with type 2 diabetes and hypertension with a UACR of 199 mg/g.  RZ takes metformin 1000 mg BID, plus lisinopril 20mg daily.  RZ most recent LDL Cholesterol was 130 mg/dL. The provider writes an order for DASH meal planning education and initiation of atorvastatin 40mg.  

Based on the most recent ADA Standards, what is the LDL Cholesterol target for RZ?

Answer Choices:

  1. LDL less than 100 mg/dL.
  2. Lower LDL by 30%.
  3. LDL target of 65 mg/dL or less.
  4. Determine LDL target based on ASCVD calculations.

Getting to the Best Answer

Answer 1 is incorrect. 25.97% chose this answer, “LDL less than 100 mg/dL.” This is a juicy answer since it is the OLD LDL goal from several years ago. But the new 2023 lipid guidelines have even more intense goals for high-risk individuals. Since RZ has diabetes, hypertension, and albuminuria (UACR >30mg/g), they have an elevated risk of ASCVD. Given their risk status, the 2023 guidelines recommend reducing LDL by at least 50% of baseline and target LDL cholesterol to less than 70 mg/dL (see slide below).

Answer 2 is incorrect. 16.63% of you chose this answer, “Lower LDL by 30%.” Another juicy answer. Given RZ’s risk status, the 2023 guidelines recommend reducing LDL by at least 50% of baseline and target LDL cholesterol to less than 70 mg/dL. (see slide below).

Answer 3 is correct. 37.01% of respondents chose this answer, “LDL target of 65 mg/dL or less.” GREAT JOB! Since RZ has diabetes, hypertension, and albuminuria (UACR >30mg/g), they have an elevated risk of ASCVD. Given their risk status, the 2023 guidelines recommend reducing LDL by at least 50% of baseline and target LDL cholesterol to less than 70 mg/dL. Since RZ’s current LDL is 130, the goal is to reduce the LDL by at least 50% (LDL of 65mg/dL) AND less than 70 mg/dL by using a high-intensity statin and lifestyle therapy, (see slide below).

Finally, Answer 4 is incorrect. 20.38% chose this answer, “Determine LDL target based on ASCVD calculations.” Although this information would be helpful, it wouldn’t change the lipid goals. Given their risk status, the 2023 guidelines recommend reducing LDL by at least 50% of baseline and target LDL cholesterol to less than 70 mg/dL, (see slide below).

Thank you so much for reading this “Rationale of the Week”.

We also invite you to join our Online Courses for more information (see info below)
Hope you can join our ADA Standards of Care Webinar Update in February and our other Level 2 Courses.


Want to learn more about this question? Join us for our

Level 2 | ADA Standards of Care CE Course | 2.0 CEs

Updates air live between Feb. 2, 2023, at 11:30 am PST

This course, updated annually, is an essential review for anyone in the field of diabetes. Join Coach Beverly as she summarizes the 2023 updates to the American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes and provides critical teaching points and content for healthcare professionals involved in diabetes care and education.

Objectives:

  1. List significant changes and updates to the 2023 ADA Standards of Medical Care.
  2. State 3 updates on new blood pressure and lipid goals.
  3. Identify 5 key elements of the position statement.
  4. Discuss how to apply the Standards in the clinical setting and in preparation for exam success.

Intended Audience:  This course is a knowledge-based activity designed for individuals or groups of diabetes professionals, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, and other health care providers interested in staying up to date on current practices of care for people with prediabetes, diabetes and other related conditions.

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


Preparing for Diabetes Certification Exam? Enroll in our Level 3 – Boot Camp 2023 Updates

Level 3 | DiabetesEd Specialist Boot Camp | 12+ CEs

Can’t join all the sessions live? No problem. Your registration guarantees you access to the recorded lectures for a full year.

This bundle is specifically designed for healthcare professionals who are studying for the Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) or the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) certification exam.

Intended Audience: This library of critical information is designed for individuals or groups of diabetes specialists, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, and other health care providers interested in staying up to date on current practices of care for people with diabetes and preparing for the BC-ADM or the CDCES certification Exam.

2023 Webinar Updates

  1. February 7, 2023 – Class 1 – Diabetes – Not Just Hyperglycemia 1.75 CEs
  2. February 9, 2023 – Class 2 – Standards of Care & Cardiovascular Goals 1.8 CEs
  3. February 14, 2023 – Class 3 – Meds for Type 2 – What you need to know 1.5
  4. February 16, 2023 – Class 4 – Insulin Therapy – From Basal/Bolus to Pattern Management 1.5 CEs
  5. February 21, 2023 – Class 5 – Insulin Intensive – Monitoring, Sick Days, Lower
  6. February 23, 2023 – Class 6 – Exercise and Medical Nutrition Therapy 1.5 CEs
  7. February 28, 2023 – Class 7 – Screening, Prevention, and Treatment of Microvascular Complications
  8. March 2, 2023 – Class 8 – Coping and Behavior Change 1.5 CEs
  9. March 9, 2023 – Class 9 – Test-Taking Coach Session (48 Questions) No CE

All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information


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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.

What’s new in 2023 ADA Standards of Care? Join Coach Bev on Feb. 2nd for important updates!

Looking for a summary of the latest updates in the ADA Standards of Medical Care?

Join us live this Thursday, February 2nd at 11:30 am PST for our

ADA Standards of Care CE Course | 2.0 CEs

This course, updated annually, is an essential review for anyone in the field of diabetes. Join Coach Beverly as she summarizes the 2023 updates to the American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes and provides critical teaching points and content for healthcare professionals involved in diabetes care and education.

Objectives:

  1. List significant changes and updates to the 2023 ADA Standards of Medical Care.
  2. State 3 updates on new blood pressure and lipid goals.
  3. Identify 5 key elements of the position statement.
  4. Discuss how to apply the Standards in the clinical setting and in preparation for exam success.

Intended Audience:  This course is a knowledge-based activity designed for individuals or groups of diabetes professionals, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, and other health care providers interested in staying up to date on current practices of care for people with prediabetes, diabetes and other related conditions.

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


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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.

Diabetes Fundamentals 2023 Series | Begins tomorrow – It’s not too late to register!

Our Level 1 | Diabetes Fundamentals 2023 Series starts tomorrow!

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.

Intended Audience: This library of critical information is designed for individuals or groups of diabetes specialists, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, and other health care providers interested in staying up to date on current practices of care for people with diabetes and preparing for the CDCES Certification Exam.

2023 Webinar Series Dates

  1. January 10, 2023 – Class 1 – Getting to the Nitty Gritty 1.5 CEs
  2. January 12, 2023 – Class 2 – Nutrition and Exercise 1.5 CEs
  3. January 17, 2023 – Class 3 – Meds Overview for Type 2 – 1.5 CEs
  4. January 19, 2023 – Class 4 – Insulin Therapy & Pattern Management 1.5 CEs
  5. January 24, 2023 – Class 5 – Goals of Care – 1.5 CEs
  6. January 26, 2023 – Class 6 – Hypoglycemia, Sick Days, Monitoring, Foot Care 1.5 CEs

All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information


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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.

Upcoming Webinar – Cancer & Diabetes | Airs Oct. 26th

Join us for our upcoming
Level 4 | Cancer and Diabetes | 1.25 CEs

Airs live on Wednesday, October 26th at 11:30 am PST

Diabetes Education Services Online University Courses are an excellent way to study for your exam anytime and anywhere that is convenient for you. You will have immediate access to your courses for 1 year after your purchase date. Each individual online course includes a: video presentation, podcast, practice test, and additional resources.

People with cancer often experience hyperglycemia secondary to treatment, which can increase the risk of infection and compromise their nutritional status. In addition, recent research has identified the link between diabetes and cancer. Join us to learn more about this unexpected link and treatment strategies for steroid-induced hyperglycemia using a case study approach.

Objectives:

  1. Discuss the relationship between cancer, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance.
  2. State 3 benefits of normalizing glucose levels during chemotherapy.
  3. Using a case study approach, discuss strategies to improve glucose levels and quality of life.

Intended Audience: These courses are knowledge-based activities designed for individuals or groups of diabetes educators, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, and other health care providers interested in enhancing their knowledge of diabetes management for people with cancer.


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


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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.

Do you have to be a Mental Health Expert to Tackle Diabetes Distress?

We asked Dr. Lawrence Fisher (see bio below), lead researcher and clinician in the Embark Trial to share his insights on providing 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.


Do you have to be a mental health expert to address diabetes distress?

Dr. Lawrence Fisher

Definitely not.

We believe that addressing the emotional side of diabetes is part of comprehensive diabetes care. It is part of living with and managing diabetes over time. Ideally, emotional care is incorporated into regular diabetes check-ups and problem-solving encounters.

Diabetes health care professionals have unique insights into the daily struggles that people living with diabetes experience. They have tremendous awareness, understanding and knowledge about diabetes self-management, including the distress that many people with diabetes experience with varying degrees over a lifetime. Diabetes specialists realize that recognizing and addressing distress is an integral part of providing care and helping people manage their lives around diabetes.


Frankly, there is no other option – Diabetes care professionals are the front line clinicians when it comes to helping people manage their diabetes, and that includes the emotional side of diabetes as well.


However, addressing diabetes distress effectively can be challenging, even for the most experienced diabetes health care professional.  After all, most clinicians don’t receive formal training to address the emotional part of diabetes self-management.  It makes sense that some additional training and support would be of benefit. That is why we need training programs like ReVive 5, so health care professionals have a safe place to increase their comfort level, enhance their skills, and learn time-efficient strategies that can be applied in clinical practice.

In addition, very few mental health professionals have any experience with diabetes and we have learned that very few people with diabetes follow through on referrals to mental health professionals. Frankly, there is no other option – Diabetes care professionals are the front line clinicians when it comes to helping people manage their diabetes, and that includes the emotional side of diabetes as well.

We also asked, How does addressing diabetes distress impact glucose levels?

This straightforward question has a relatively complex answer – like most things in clinical care. Many studies have shown that there is a modest but significant correlation between distress and A1C – the higher the distress, the higher the A1C and vice versa. But this is an ‘association’ and it DOES NOT mean that one CAUSES the other. We believe that the only modest association between distress and A1C can be explained, at least in part, by examining two related issues.

First, there is a relatively high rate of distress among people with diabetes with A1C levels of 7% or less. The distress that some people in this A1C range feel are associated with fears of hypoglycemia and struggles with eating. In fact, in a recent study, we discovered that about a quarter of participants with an A1C of 7% or less reported significantly elevated levels of diabetes distress. So even people who are reaching target glucose levels can experience significant levels of distress.

The second reason is really interesting, and it has implications for intervention. As mentioned above, in two recent studies, we reported a significant but modest association between distress and A1C. But as we delved into the findings, we discovered that reductions in distress associated with a clinical intervention were only ‘indirectly’ linked with reductions in A1C.

Most importantly, we found that reductions in distress were highly related to improvements in diabetes self-management, which, in turn, were significantly related to reductions in A1C. To say it simply, the reductions in distress were due to improvements in self-management behaviors which led to reductions in A1C. This is a critical point – because it suggests that health care providers can have the biggest impact by combining distress reduction AND management interventions to improve glucose management as well as help people improve their quality of life.

ReVive 5 Diabetes Training Program Expert Faculty

Dr. Lawrence Fisher’s most recent work focuses on diabetes distress and depression, disease management, and how adults and families struggle over time to manage chronic health conditions.

He has served as a professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco for over 25 years, and he is the Director of The Behavioral Diabetes Research Group at UCSF. He has conducted multiple cross-sectional and longitudinal NIH- and ADA-supported clinical research with adults with diabetes and their families. He maintains an active clinical practice at UCSF, has published over 190 peer-reviewed articles on diabetes and related topics, and frequently speaks to both professional and lay groups at local, national, and international meetings and workshops


Join us to gain the confidence and learn the skills needed to support people with diabetes to move forward in their self management and discover the expert within.

Speakers Interviews – Learn more about the ReVive 5 Team

    Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post weekly Blog Bytes that are informative and FREE! Every week we post one exam practice Question of the Week and Rationale of the Week. Sign up below!

    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.