Subscribe
eNewsletter
Ready to get certified?
Free CDCES Coach App
Download
Free Med Pocket Cards
eNewsletter
Free CDCES Coach App
Free Med Pocket Cards
Featured Articles & Announcements ___________________________ |
Webinars & Programs
___________________________
Greetings, healthcare colleagues!
As healthcare professionals, we’re often invited into the most tender moments of people’s lives. In these moments, you may notice your heart swell with compassion, sorrow, or deep gratitude. While this emotional labor is rarely acknowledged, I want you to know: I see it. I hear it.
We recognize the love and care you give each day. Whether it’s an after-hours check-in, helping with food access, volunteering at a community event, or offering a much-needed hug.
This February, let’s take a moment to honor you and the quiet heroism of showing up again and again with an open heart.
In this newsletter issue, I share how not being selected for a diabetes educator award led me to a deeper realization and lit a fire to share my message by writing a book.
We also highlight the power of professional connections and the importance of membership in shaping a healthcare future that reflects our values and vision. A special thanks to Sarah Hormachea, RD, MS, CDCES, BC-ADM for her meaningful insights and guest article contribution.
In celebration of fiber, don’t miss nutrition expert Christine Craig’s article featuring the unsung benefits of fiber plus a high five list.
A tech-focused feature from Dr. Beattie explores how technology and diabetes distress can be linked, along with tools to address it.
You are the heartbeat of health care! Here’s to leading with love this month and every month.
With hearts full of gratitude,
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Astraea & Katarina
Basic & e-Deluxe CDCES Boot Camp Bundle includes:
CDCES Boot Camp | 50+ CEs
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.
✔ Earn CE/CPE credit through AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR. For more information on accreditation, visit the registration page on our Online Store and click the “Accreditation” tab.
✔ Learn at your pace with expert-led, exam-focused content
✔ Everything you need—organized, practical, and in one place
✔ Perfect for self-directed learners who want complete, person-centered content for clinical practice and exam prep.
✔ Build knowledge, sharpen test-taking skills, and prepare with confidence—on your schedule.
Focused. Flexible. Proven.
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 renewing your CDCES or BC-ADM certification this live conference, paired with a handful of free bonus courses, serves as the ideal renewal companion!
Join this FREE, pharmacist-focused webinar Co-led by Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, BCACP, CDCES, FADCES, FCCP, Endocrinology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist and Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM.
Leave with a practical roadmap for achieving Certification Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) or Board Certification in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM).
Making a connection is healing for the person in our care and for us too.
This is why I developed what I call the ABC Worksheet — a simple framework rooted in forging genuine connections rather than focusing on corrections:
This simple ABC approach shifts the tone of care. Instead of asking, “Why aren’t you doing this?” we ask, “I’m curious, what’s the hardest thing about managing your diabetes right now?”
Diabetes is just one aspect of their complete humanity. Diabetes is a common chronic condition that disrupts the usual orchestration of glucose management. No one can give themselves diabetes. And, the individual with diabetes is not to blame for this glucose dysregulation. It’s due to a combination of genetics, early childhood experiences, and social factors that shape health.
I give all of us permission to free ourselves from being responsible for patients’ choices. Our job is to listen and help the individual discover their own internal wisdom. The best way to tap into their self-knowledge is to allow space for reflection and to ask permission before offering our well-intentioned insights.
As I write in my book, “Engaging in active listening is considered a therapeutic intervention on its own. When we focus on listening with curiosity first, something powerful happens. A bridge is built – a connection is made.”
This bridge of active listening provides the perfect segue to dive into diabetes distress and the emotional weightiness of life with diabetes.
Diabetes distress acts like a brake. If we don’t first address fear, shame, or diabetes overwhelm, not even the best diabetes education plan will stick. But when we assess emotional well-being early, we release that brake — and forward movement becomes possible. (Here is a link to Diabetes Distress Screening Tools)
And here is the beautiful part: this approach doesn’t just help the person with diabetes. It sustains us.
“In the end, a person-centered approach doesn’t only support the person with diabetes—it also supports the healthcare professional by fostering authentic connection, shared responsibility, and a greater sense of purpose in your work.”
Investing in connection reduces burnout and increases the likelihood of success. It frees us from being responsible for their choices. We are simply the coach, helping them discover the wisdom they already possess. This partnership can restore our purpose and allow us to be present in this healing journey. Compassion is re-energizing for us and for the person in our care.
So instead of saying, “I know you don’t want to get diabetes complications, so you need to really work on your weight loss goals,” we greet the person and ask them, how are you feeling?
Instead of focusing on their weight at the scale, we ask them, how are you feeling in your body?
Instead of focusing on the weight they have gained, we focus on the behavior changes they have made (meeting with the RDN, eating more veggies, and decreasing their soda intake).
How good does that feel for both the health care provider and the person in their care? It feels great.
Download the ABC’s of Teaching Through Connection Worksheet and begin integrating Awareness, Belonging, and Collaboration into your daily practice.
And if this message resonates with you, I invite you to explore Healing through Connection for Healthcare Professionals. Coach Beverly wrote this book to help you care for others while finding yourself in the process.
👉 Download the Worksheet
👉 Order the Book Here
Let’s move from judgment to partnership.
Let’s lead with connection and curiosity.
Coach Bev 💜
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.
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.
Featured Articles __________________________ |
Today marks Martin Luther King Jr Day, which gives us pause to reflect on his ideals of equality and justice through acts of service and community care.
Our Bridge Scholarship is rooted in these ideals of service and reciprocity. Our Scholar and Mentorship program goes beyond education—it’s about building connections, fostering professional growth, and creating a vibrant community of passionate diabetes care providers.
We are proud to offer 14 “Making a Difference” Scholarship spots for healthcare professionals to attend our Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference at no cost or a reduced registration fee. If you or a colleague is seeking to achieve diabetes certification and improve the health of your community, you may qualify for this scholarship opportunity.
Two exciting opportunities to help you on your way!
We are deeply grateful to all the mentors and healthcare professionals who are on their journey toward becoming certified diabetes specialists and leaders in diabetes care.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Astraea & Katarina
You are invited to join our FREE Test-Taking Success Webinar on January 23rd, 2026, designed specifically for busy healthcare professionals preparing for diabetes certification.
During this webinar, you will have the opportunity to answer and dissect 20 sample exam questions alongside Coach Bev. Learn how to avoid common exam pitfalls and get to the best answer!
This content will boost your confidence and clarity so you can walk into exam day feeling prepared, calm, and in control. Coach Beverly has helped thousands of candidates cross over the finish line to success. She has passed her CDCES exam 7 times and counting.
🎯 Gain Confidence with Proven Strategies —save your spot today.
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).
Get exam-ready with confidence. 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. ✔ Earn CE/CPE credit through AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR. For more information on accreditation, visit the registration page on our Online Store and click the “Accreditation” tab. ✔ Learn at your pace with expert-led, exam-focused content ✔ Everything you need—organized, practical, and in one place Perfect for self-directed learners who want complete, person-centered content for clinical practice and exam prep. Focused. Flexible. Proven. Build knowledge, sharpen test-taking skills, and prepare with confidence—on your schedule. |
Get ready for Exam Success Starting Today! Sale ends January 26, 2026! |
CDCES Boot Camp Bundle includes:
Levels 1, 2, and 3 of our Online University
30+ expert-led courses
50 CE/CPEUs
400+ online practice questions
Handouts, podcast, video and one year access—all in one streamlined platform.
Take 15% OFF with coupon code Community15.
Sale ends January 26, 2026!
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.
Featured Articles ___________________________ |
Greetings, wonderful healthcare colleagues!
You are going to love all the updates to our cheat sheets, online university courses, and PocketCards.
Coach Beverly has been excitedly scanning the 2026 ADA Standards to discover updates and advances in diabetes care. She and her team are hustling to integrate these new findings across our platforms, including the CDCES Coach App, handouts, courses, and web content, so that you can access the latest information with confidence.
In our first newsletter of 2026, we are excited to share that we have made significant changes to our Medication PocketCards in the GLP-1/GIP RA section. Now included are the diabetes and weight-loss versions of this popular medication class, with indications for each. You can compare and contrast at a glance. Download your free version and read more below.
Our library of Cheat Sheets is updated and includes a few new additions! These sheets are available on our website and the CDCES Coach App for easy access, with the option to download and share with your colleagues and people living with diabetes alike.
Christine Craig, MS, RD, CDCES, explores her experience with a client who arrived at her office distraught and struggling with the loss of his lifelong partner. Pass the tissues.
Our Tech contributor, Dr. Beattie, provides a summary of red flag statements that may indicate a person is experiencing barriers to effectively using technology in their day-to-day management.
We encourage you to test your knowledge with our Question and Rationale of the Week. January kicks off our Level 1 Fundamental Series, followed by our annual ADA Standards of Care update on January 29th and Level 2 Mastery Course Series in February. We hope to see you there!
Here is to a 2026 filled with self-compassion and moments of awe.
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Astraea & Katarina
If you’ve considered not renewing your professional practice group membership this year, you’re not alone. Membership in professional organizations has declined as many turn to social media and AI-driven platforms for information and connection. Still, I encourage you not to abandon professional membership in favor of options that may seem cheaper or more convenient.
In a noisy, chaotic landscape of information overload, professional practice groups remain a refuge from the storm. They offer a trusted alternative to clickbait, providing vetted expertise, meaningful connection, and true professional community.
No amount of viral TikTok videos or LinkedIn commentary can replace the depth of connection and sense of purpose that come from active engagement in a professional practice organization. And, here’s why.
Professional practice groups, also known as professional practice organizations, are designed to advance a specific field by providing members with networking opportunities, professional development, and practice resources. In healthcare, these organizations may be tailored to the needs of a single discipline, such as the American Nurses Association, or span interdisciplinary areas of practice, like the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists or the American Diabetes Association.
Some organizations focus primarily on education and credentialing, while others emphasize leadership development and community building. Still others center their work on advocacy related to patient care, access, and insurance coverage.
At its core, most professional practice groups are founded and driven by their members, with membership dues supporting the administrative needs required to operate. As groups grow, they often engage professional management or organizational leadership teams to oversee day-to-day operations such as membership services, programming, finances, legal compliance, and other administrative functions.
Strategic direction and oversight typically remain the responsibility of an elected or appointed governing body. In some cases, professional organizations may choose to hire members, transitioning them from volunteer roles into paid staff positions.
As operating costs rise, often without corresponding increases in salaries or reimbursement, many professional practice groups partner with industry or government organizations for additional financial support. These partnerships can help keep membership dues, educational programming, and events accessible and affordable for members.
It would be easy to blame declining professional membership on COVID, but the reality is this trend started long before the pandemic. Across healthcare, fewer clinicians are joining or renewing professional organizations. Cost is often the biggest factor. When budgets are tight, many people feel forced to choose one membership instead of several. Others question whether the return on investment is still there, especially when education, networking, and professional content are now easy to find online for free.
In my own field of dietetics, I also hear concerns about transparency and alignment with the future of the profession. The move to a master’s degree requirement without a meaningful increase in entry-level pay has created real frustration, particularly for early-career professionals and those from underrepresented backgrounds. Many feel their needs were not fully considered or advocated for during that transition.
These frustrations are valid. But they are also exactly why walking away may not be the answer. Professional practice groups are shaped by the people who show up. If something isn’t working, the most effective way to change it is to get involved.
Despite the challenges, the benefits of professional membership far outweigh the drawbacks, and the opportunity to influence the future of your profession is worth staying engaged.
Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Substack, and X (formerly Twitter) are great for ideas and inspiration, but they rarely offer sustained, reciprocal mentorship. Most interactions are brief, one-sided, or tied to someone selling something.
Professional practice groups offer something different. They foster trusted relationships with people who have walked the same path and understand the realities of the work. Advice is shared openly, support develops over time, and there is no sales funnel attached. It is not a transaction. It is a co-op.
Professional practice groups offer a space to ask questions without worrying about who is watching or how you are being perceived. There is room to be unsure, curious, or quietly ambitious, especially early in your career or during periods of transition.
Unlike social media, which often rewards confidence and visibility, professional groups tend to reward competence, growth, and thoughtful engagement. The focus is less on performance and more on learning and supporting one another as professionals.
Most online content is designed for reach, not rigor. Professional practice groups focus on depth, offering evidence-based, peer-reviewed insights shared by professionals, for professionals. It is not about trends. It is about trust. As these professional practice groups evolve, many are also opening the door to honest conversations about topics once considered off-limits, such as workplace culture, compensation, and career options.
I’ve made meaningful connections on social media and learn something new every day from tools like ChatGPT. Those platforms have their place.
But when I want to understand where a profession is really headed, I look to professional practice groups. Who is presenting the research? What study resources are being recommended? Who is mentoring, volunteering, and helping shape the future of the field? These groups create space to contribute, learn, and grow alongside peers who care deeply about the work.
I’ve always respected my work colleagues, but I truly value my professional practice peers. I hope you will, too.
References:
Sarah is the owner of Sarah Hormachea: Diabetes Care and Education, LLC. She is a long-time member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA). She currently serves as Webinar Chair for the Academy’s Diabetes Practice Group and is an incoming member of the ADCES Board of Directors. She is also enrolled in a women’s leadership development program through the ADA.
Featured Articles ___________________________ |
Upcoming Programs ___________________________
Upcoming FREE Webinars ___________________________ Pre-Order ADA Standards Book for 2026
|
Hi friends, we have two pieces of exciting news!
First, the 2026 ADA Standards of Care are here! This updated content is full of evidence-based guidelines and clinical pearls that you can bring back to your practice, prepare for certification exams, and, of course, advocate on behalf of people living with pre-diabetes and diabetes.
As a busy healthcare professional, we understand that you may not have time to read all 350+ pages! We have a solution.
Join Coach Bev on January 29th for a 2.5 CE Live Webinar that summarizes the critical content you need to know. If you can’t join us live, once you register, you have access to the recorded version for a full year.
You can relax as your expert guide, Coach Bev, leads you through a two hour journey highlighting updates to the ADA Standards. You will walk away feeling confident and focused on what’s most important for certification exams and your practice.
Second exciting announcement!
The New CDCES Coach App is NOW available on Apple and Google Play. Best part? It’s still FREE!
After 6 months of renovation (thanks, Bryanna), you are going to love our new and improved CDCES Coach App. Our older version is sunsetting at the end of the month, so download the new version today! Enjoy quick access to the ADA Standards, new sample test questions with rationales, cheat sheets, Question of the Week and more!
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Astraea & Katarina
Our new, revitalized CDCES Coach app, will equip you with certification exam study tools and clinical resources- right at your fingertips!
✨ Fresh new design with easier navigation.
New Quizzes with Rationale for In-app Purchase Option
✨ 25 Practice Test Questions with Rationale – Only $9.99! ✨
📱 Register Today! To take advantage of all these enhanced features, you will need to sign up for the new CDCES Coach App! The old app sunsets on 12/31/2025.
You have been asking for these app improvements. We are happy to deliver new features while keeping your favorite resources at the ready!
📱 Works on mobile, tablet, and desktop-friendly!
I love this time of year because we get to celebrate you, the hard-working and dedicated diabetes healthcare professionals.
To allow more healthcare professionals to join the Diabetes Education and Care Specialist community, we have expanded our accreditation.
With our evidence-based courses, we are now providing CEs for physicians, nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists. We want to make sure that anyone who wants to enter the field of diabetes has ample opportunity.
Thank you so much for the lives you touch every day.
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Astraea & Katarina
