We celebrate love in February, which is central to diabetes care and education. We open our hearts as we carefully listen to people share their stories about living with diabetes. We celebrate successes and grieve losses alongside the individuals we serve every day. We speak our hearts when we advocate for evidence-based care that enhances well-being and improves outcomes.
In recognition of these daily contributions of diabetes care and education specialists, we are excited to announce our “Spreading the Love” Sale during the week of Valentine’s Day. Enjoy 15% off all our online courses, including program extensions.
This month’s newsletter includes a breaking post on the most significant change to the CDCES Exam in the past 30 years (besides moving to computer testing from scantrons). We also explore how chronotype can impact glucose levels and disease risk.
As our company continues to flourish, we have expanded our team to maintain top-tier customer service. We are delighted to introduce our new customer advocate, Brent McMenomey. If you call in, you might catch his cheerful voice on the other end of the phone. In addition, he will be helping Bryanna answer chat questions and emails. Welcome Brent!
We provide two rationales of the month based on the ADA Standards. We decided to post these questions with the rationales to include additional insights into the new and updated guidelines.
As part of our commitment to foster inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility, we are offering FIVE “Making a Difference” Scholarships for our Virtual DiabetesEd Training Course on April 17-19th. Thank you in advance for considering applying and sharing with your colleagues.
In the next few weeks, you will notice updates on our homepage that will make navigation and finding your favorite resources easier. Plus, we will be popping in some new informational videos.
With love and appreciation,
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Brent, Andrew, and Ginger
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Join Coach Beverly and Team for two and a half days of knowledge-sharing, fun, and “aha” moments for our Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference April 17th – 19th, 2024.
Attendees will leave this conference with new tools and a refreshed understanding of the latest advances in person-centered diabetes care. Our team highlights the ADA Standards of Care, medications, behavior change, technology, medical nutrition therapy, and more!
Our instructors co-teach the content to keep things fresh and lively.
Friend Discount: 3 or more only $449 per person. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
Accreditation: Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and our CPEU courses have received Prior Approval* from the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002. Since our CPEU courses received Prior approval* from the CDR, these CPEU courses satisfy the CE requirements for the CDCES /BC-ADM regardless of your profession!
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.
Every year, Coach Beverly excitedly waits for the release of the new ADA Standards of Care. She loves scanning the content pages to discover updates and advances leading to improved diabetes care. She then takes on the task of translating this new information into her presentations, Cheat Sheets, and web content to reflect the latest guidelines.
This first 2024 newsletter features the updated risk screening guidelines and immunization recommendations. We share our library of Cheat Sheets that integrate the new Standards and are ready to download and share with your colleagues and people living with diabetes alike.
For those taking the CDCES exam, we highlight updated information about practice requirements and blackout periods. Plus, we answer the most commonly asked question about the CDCES in our blog.
We invite you to read our interview with Christine Craig, MS, RD, CDCES, nutrition expert, and winner of the 2023 Impact Award. As the newest member of our team, We are excited to integrate her fresh perspective and breadth of knowledge into our blogs, questions of the week, and online presentations.
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 and Level 3 Boot Camp Course Series in February. We hope to see you there!
Here is to a 2024 filled with self-compassion and moments of awe.
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Andrew, and Ginger
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Upcoming Events – See the complete calendar listing
This course facilitated by Coach Beverly will help you transform your nervousness into focused energy that will help you succeed. She will provide test taking tips based on her experience taking the certification exam six times. She will explain how to dissect the question, eliminate wrong answers, and avoid getting lured in by juicy answers.
Plus, the Test Taking Toolkit provides you over 220+ sample practice online practice questions, simulating the exam experience. A perfect way to assess your knowledge and create a focused study plan, while increasing your test taking confidence.
This Test Taking Practice Exam Toolkit is designed to prepare you for exam success. This Webinar includes:
Intended Audience: These courses are knowledge-based activities designed for individual or groups of diabetes educators, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, and other health care providers interested in preparing for Certification Exam Success!
Can’t make it live? No worries. We will send post the recorded version to the Online University within 24 hours of the broadcast
Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, has been Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management for over 20 years. She is an Associate Clinical Professor at UCSF, a working educator, and a nationally recognized diabetes expert. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from UCLA, with a focus on behavioral health and education.
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!
Accreditation: Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and our CPEU courses have received Prior Approval* from the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002. Since our CPEU courses received Prior approval* from the CDR, these CPEU courses satisfy the CE requirements for the CDCES /BC-ADM regardless of your profession!
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.
We had such a great time celebrating 25 years with all of you.
The first highlight of the year was connecting with colleagues at ADCES in Houston. It was like attending a family reunion with thousands of like-minded individuals. So many enthusiastic colleagues stopped me mid-stride to share the news of passing their CDCES or BC-ADM after attending our courses. Many hugs were shared, and there were plenty of tears of joy, too! As a diabetes education veteran, it was a special honor to present one of my passion topics, Revitalizing Your Diabetes Program. As part of my legacy education topics, this presentation is culled from my 30 years of working in the field and braving new approaches, sometimes failing but always moving forward with a clear focus on improving the care received by people with diabetes. Nothing is like the profound connection made with others in a shared community.
We also celebrated our 25th company anniversary for the entire year. Activities included lots of free webinars, new swag, and great sales.
I started Diabetes Education Services in May of 1998, just after the World Wide Web was introduced, and sending messages through something called “email” was possible. At first, my one-person company only offered live courses at hospitals and meeting sites nationwide. My administrative space consisted of a 10×12 foot room in our home, where I juggled writing my monthly newsletter and updating slides while raising two busy toddlers. In 2010, I took a leap of faith and decided to try offering courses online.
Fast forward to today. Our business has grown to include a fantastic team and a newsletter reaching over 40,000 online subscribers. Our Online University includes over 50 CE courses that we update yearly, plus we offer a CDCES Coach app, blogs, an 8-sided PocketCard, keynote presentations, and more. This year, we held our three day DiabetesEd Course in San Diego and celebrated with a beautiful ocean view, special friends and delicious carrot cake topped with a 25 year candle.
Family celebrations.
My husband and I became empty nesters this year. Our oldest son is a senior at SMU and will graduate with his finance degree in May. Our youngest son is kicking off his chemistry degree at UC Berkeley. I miss the daily bustle and commotion of having my boys around, but I am overjoyed that they have found their place in this world and are boldly moving into adulthood. Of course, I can’t wait till they come home for the holidays so we can play cards, tell stories, and hang out together.
We also celebrated 25 years of marriage. My husband, Kristapor, continues his work as a critical care pharmacist at our local community hospital saving lives and advocating for best care at every turn. At the risk of sounding corny, my husband has been the wind beneath my wings. Having him as my partner throughout this life journey has given me a foundation of trust and love to take risks and live my dream. I am forever grateful that I commented on his cute tie when we worked together at Stanford hospital in 1996. The rest is history.
The truth is, we couldn’t have done any of this without all of YOU, our community.
I am forever grateful for your willingness to support and believe in a young Diabetes Specialist who had the vision to create a company that uplifted people with diabetes through a blend of science and compassion.
Thanks to our dedicated community of diabetes educators and advocates for celebrating our 25th Anniversary with us. Stay tuned. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
This series is designed for healthcare professionals who are interested in getting started in diabetes education and for those actively working toward becoming a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Each course in this series provides the critical building blocks and foundation for those entering the diabetes field.
Can’t make it live? No worries. We will send post the recorded version to the Online University within 24 hours of the broadcast
Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, has been Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management for over 20 years. She is an Associate Clinical Professor at UCSF, a working educator, and a nationally recognized diabetes expert. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from UCLA, with a focus on behavioral health and education.
All hours earned count toward your CDCES Accreditation Information
See Full Free Resource Catalog
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 understand the important work you all do every day to support individuals living with and managing diabetes and prediabetes.
We are so thankful for the differences you all make in the world as you address disparities and improve the health of communities locally and across the nation.
We have been so inspired by our students and are so proud of each achievement. If you have a moment, stop by our CDCES Success Stories page to read about the incredible journeys students have taken to become diabetes educators and advocates.
At Diabetes Ed Services, we work diligently every day to provide diabetes information that is relevant, compassionate and cutting edge. We believe in the potential of all students, from people living with diabetes to health care professionals striving to enhance their knowledge. Thank you for being a part of our lives and community.
We will be closing shop starting today for the holidays. We will open our doors at 7am on Monday, well rested, a few pounds heavier and ready for our Cyber Monday Sale.
On behalf of the entire Diabetes Education Services Team, Happy Thanksgiving!
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.
To recognize Native American Heritage Month, we are honored to share a treasured poem by one of my favorite poets and writers, Joy Harjo. Plus, we also share an interactive map of Indigenous Lands (credit to NPR).
In 2019, Joy Harjo was recognized as the United States poet laureate and served three terms. Harjo is an internationally renowned performer and writer of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is the author of nine books of poetry, including the highly acclaimed An American Sunrise, several plays and children’s books, and two memoirs, Crazy Brave and Poet Warrior. Her many honors include the Ruth Lily Prize for Lifetime Achievement from the Poetry Foundation, the Academy of American Poets Wallace Stevens Award, two NEA fellowships, and a Guggenheim Fellowship.
You can learn more about Joy Harjo on her webpage, www.joyharjo.com.
Joy Harjo
Remember the sky that you were born under,
know each of the star’s stories.
Remember the moon, know who she is.
Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the
strongest point of time. Remember sundown
and the giving away to night.
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled
to give you form and breath. You are evidence of
her life, and her mother’s, and hers.
Remember your father. He is your life, also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are:
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
brown earth, we are earth.
Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their
tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them,
listen to them. They are alive poems.
Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the
origin of this universe.
Remember you are all people and all people
are you.
Remember you are this universe and this
universe is you.
Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.
Remember language comes from this.
Remember the dance language is, that life is.
Remember.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a time of reflection, recognition and celebration of the role Native people have played in U.S. history. One way to mark the day — and to learn about Indigenous history year-round — is to learn which Native lands you live on.
November kicks off National Diabetes Month, a time to recognize that over 11% of Americans are living with diabetes and over 35% have prediabetes. Since diabetes results from a combination of genetics plus environment, there is a recognition that social determinants of health play a pivotal role in the development of diabetes and its complications. Through advocacy and education, we can inform individuals on best care for diabetes and support them in taking action to improve the health of their communities to prevent future diabetes. We have put together a list of FREE diabetes resources in English and Spanish to share with people living with prediabetes and diabetes. Thank you for your advocacy and belief that we can make a difference. Coach Beverly
ADA’s Diabetes Food Hub – English and Spanish! Web site filled with information on healthy eating and an abundance of delicious recipes.
ADA Diabetes Education Library Offers over 170 topics on diabetes that are searchable by topic and language. A treasure trove of educational info.
ADA Resources in Spanish – this newly opened information hub is perfect for those who prefer to learn and read in Spanish.
CDC Diabetes Prevention Program Curricula and Handouts This site offers excellent resources for those interested in offering Diabetes Prevention Education.
National Diabetes Education Program is an online library of resources compiled by the NDEP to help provide accurate information and support for people living with prediabetes and diabetes.
ADA’s FREE Life with Diabetes Program: ADA’s program includes six digital, printable journeys to teach how to live well with diabetes; a monthly e-newsletter with tips, stories, and more resources; six free issues of the Diabetes Forecast® magazine; access to an online community and local events. (The program is available in both English and Spanish).
Type 1 Diabetes Resource Page – Includes is a list of helpful online resources for Type 1 Diabetes. It include sites for national organizations like the American Diabetes Association (ADA), sites for diabetes interest groups, and other participant organizations that provide helpful diabetes tips and opportunities to join online groups.
See Full Free Resource Catalog
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!
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.
As temperatures cool and kids head back to school, we begin switching gears to prepare for an exciting line-up of Fall activities.
We are thrilled to offer a brand-new webinar, “Revitalizing Your Diabetes Program or Business,” on September 28th. We are offering this for FREE as part of our ongoing 25-year celebration. Please know that if you can’t join us live, once you register for any of our programs, you will receive a link to the recorded version, usually within 24 hours.
We also invite you to join three FREE webinars we are offering in September. You can pop in for our CDCES or BC-ADM Prep webinars, which Coach Beverly will be broadcasting from her international office in France.
Next, we feature Dr. Diana Isaacs discussing the proposed Medicare (CMS) drug price negotiations designed to make commonly used and expensive medications more affordable. Four of the ten medications outlined are used to treat people with diabetes. You can learn more about this proposal and view a podcast where Dr. Isaacs and Dr. Bellini provide more details in our featured article.
Eating more fruits and vegetables as part of a prescription program improved the health of study participants at over twelve different sites. The goal is to create sustainable, community-based programs that will enhance access to these healing foods for the long term.
After working at Diabetes Education Services for over a decade, my son, Jackson, is kicking off his chemistry studies at UC Berkeley. We sure miss him, but we are excited to cheer him on as he enters this next phase of life. Thank you, Jackson, for your contributions and for recommending Ginger Nichols to continue your legacy.
We invite you to challenge yourself with our question and rationale of the week. We hope you can join our three-day live conference and 25-Year celebration party, cupcakes and swag included, in San Diego.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Andrew, and Ginger
Featured Articles
FREE Webinars & Resources
Upcoming Events – See the complete calendar listing
Join Coach Beverly and Team for two and a half days of knowledge-sharing, fun, networking, games with prizes, and “aha” moments in beautiful San Diego.
You don’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind learning opportunity. Get away from all those daily responsibilities and immerse yourself in a fun and intensive conference with plenty of networking opportunities.
Attendees will leave this conference with new tools and a more complete understanding of the latest advances in diabetes care, from medications to technology to Medical Nutrition Therapy!
Bring your colleagues and enjoy our friend discount.
Our team expertly translates the complex science of diabetes into understandable terms while keeping it real, practical, and fun.
Team of expert faculty includes:
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.
You passed the CDCES Exam (yay)! Now five years have flown by, you are up for renewal. How do you maintain this hard-earned certification?
This year, the CBDCE published new rules to renew certification which you might have missed. To make sure there are no surprises during your renewal process, here are key considerations from the CBDCE Website that we hope you find helpful!
To promote quality and inclusive diabetes care and education, the CBDCE Board changed the continuing education (CE) content requirements. Certificants will still need to complete 75 CE units over a five-year period. However, to make sure CDCES’s stay abreast of the latest standards and promote inclusive care, the Board is now requiring participation in CE courses that provide updates on the ADA Standards of Care at least twice during the individual’s renewal cycle.
This means that starting in 2023, certificants will need to start acquiring these more specific CEs in preparation for 2025 renewal.
According to the CBDCE, to successfully renew their CDCES, applicants must participate in CE activities that are focused on the American Diabetes Association’s Standards of Care for Diabetes* two separate times during your renewal cycle.
2. In addition, the following CE Activities are encouraged:
If you are renewing your CDCES in 2025 or later by completing 75 CE units over the five-year period, the CBDCE requires that you demonstrate completion of the following type of CE Activities (you can immediately start accumulating these needed CEs). The CBDCE encourages the following CE activities at least once during your renewal cycle:
Diabetes Education Services Online University is Here to Help
*Since Diabetes Education Services is Accredited by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), all of our courses can be applied toward your CDCES Renewal.
Our content incorporates the ADA Standards and Content Requirements
Our Level 2 ADA Standards of Care series, CDCES Basic Prep Bundle, and our new “Everything” Bundle are perfect options for those working toward CDCES renewal requirements. Plus, we update our entire library of content yearly to reflect the latest ADA Guidelines.
In addition, our DiabetesEd Training Programs cover the ADA Standards of Care with clarity and intention by a trio of experts, including Diana Issacs, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES, and FADCES a contributing author to the ADA Standards.
Plus, all of our content incorporates education principles and teaching strategies, with a special emphasis on population health, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
We are here to help you succeed. Whether you are starting your journey or working toward recertification, our Standards of Care Intensive, CDCES Basic Prep Bundle, and our new “Everything” Bundle or DiabetesEd Training Conferences are perfect options to meet your goals.
For more information, visit CBDCE Renewal Webpage and/or the current Renewal Handbook for details on the requirements.
Achieving my CDCES is one of the best and most meaningful investments in professional career! ~ Coach Beverly
We will award two diabetes educators who provide care and education to under-served communities that lack access to Diabetes Specialists and healthcare 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 2 nights hotel stay.
We are offering two scholarships, both for the entire registration of the Live Training and 2 hotel nights:
*These scholarships cover the course registration fee and 2 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.
Applications are due July 24th, 2023. We will be announcing the recipients by July 31st, 2023.
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.
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 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.