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What’s the Best Answer Thursday | Does AACE recommend meds to treat prediabetes?

For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on if AACE recommends medications to treat prediabetes. 90% 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 by clicking here.

A 36-year-old has an A1C of 6.2%, BMI of 36, hypertension, and a strong family history of type 2 diabetes. Despite sustained nutrition and physical activity interventions, they can’t seem to lower their A1C. They ask whether medication could help reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Which approach is MOST consistent with American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) recommendations?

  • A. Avoid pharmacologic treatment until the A1C or FPG reaches the diagnostic threshold for diabetes.
  • B. Consider pharmacotherapy, including metformin or GLP-1–based therapy to reduce metabolic risk.
  • C. Initiate a sulfonylurea to improve beta-cell function and prevent progression to type 2 diabetes.
  • D. Initiate basal insulin to preserve pancreatic beta-cell function and lower A1C.

Getting to the Best Answer

If you are thinking about taking the certification exam, this practice test question will set you up for success. Test writers anticipate possible answers based on the details in the question. They will wave those “juicy answers” right under your nose. Your job is to weed through the particulars, pluck out the most important elements and choose the BEST answer.

Answer A is incorrect. 5.10% chose this answer: “Avoid pharmacologic treatment until the A1C or FPG reaches the diagnostic threshold for diabetes.” 

This may have been true in the past, but both the ADA and AACE now recommend considering pharmacologic treatment in the prediabetes phase to delay or prevent a future diabetes diagnosis.

Answer B is correct. 89.80% of you chose this answer, “Consider pharmacotherapy, including metformin or GLP-1–based therapy to reduce metabolic risk.” Great job! This is the correct answer. 

Prediabetes provides an opportunity for active intervention rather than watchful waiting. AACE recommends addressing excess adiposity and associated metabolic complications as part of diabetes prevention. For an individual with obesity and prediabetes, evidence-based obesity pharmacotherapy may be considered alongside nutrition, physical activity, behavioral support, and management of cardiovascular risk factors. Current AACE guidance takes a patient-centered, complication-focused approach to obesity/adiposity-based chronic disease rather than relying on BMI or glucose alone.

Answer C is incorrect. 3.06% of respondents chose this: “Initiate a sulfonylurea to improve beta-cell function and prevent progression to type 2 diabetes.” 

Is not the best answer since sulfonylureas aren’t recommended as diabetes-prevention therapy and carry risks including hypoglycemia and weight gain.

Finally, Answer D is incorrect. 2.04% chose this answer, “Initiate basal insulin to preserve pancreatic beta-cell function and lower A1C.”

Not the best answer since insulin is not routinely used to delay progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes.

We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Test You Knowledge Tuesday and participate in this fun learning activity!

Want to Learn More about this Question?

Join us live in San Diego for our

DiabetesEd Training Program

Brand new agenda for 2026!

🌟Updated Schedule: ADA Boot Camp, Tech, MNT & More

Live in Beautiful San Diego – Oct 22-23, 2026

Re-Ignite your Passion & Prepare for Diabetes Certification Exams

🎓 Earn 30+ CEs: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!

📅

2-Day Conference

Oct 22–23, 2026

⏱️

15.5 Live CEs

+ 17 bonus CEs

🏅

CDCES & BC-ADM

Exam Prep + Renewal

📍

San Diego, CA

1.7 mi from airport

Advance Your Expertise and Prepare for Your Future

The field of diabetes care is expanding and evolving rapidly. This unique training conference will keep you on the cutting edge plus prepare you for certification exams. It also fulfills the Standards of Care renewal requirement. Join us for two days of intensive education that is fun and inspiring. Add on the optional Day 3 (Engaging the Disengaged), to complete your conference exeperience.

Day 1 – ADA/AACE Standards of Care Boot Camp

Coach Beverly and Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES co-lead an exciting day that brings the ADA and AACE Standards to life. Gain fresh insights, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of the latest in person-centered diabetes care. After attending, you will be empowered to share the latest in diabetes care with your colleagues and the people in your care.

Day 2 – Insulin, Tech, MNT and Case Studies

Take your knowledge to the next level with this intensive deep-dive into insulin therapy, dosing and pattern management with Dr. Diana Isaacs. Next, stay for the diabetes tech show-and-tell as Diana demonstrates the specs of the latest pumps and sensors. After lunch, nutrition whiz Christine Craig, MS, RDN, CDCES expertly details the latest in MNT and provides real strategies on translating this content to your clinical practice. You will have a chance to put it all together as Coach Beverly leads you through a series of case studies that integrates content from Day 1 and Day 2.

Add-On Day 3 – Engaging the Disengaged

On Saturday, join this exceptional day-long program led by William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES & Susan Guzman, PhD (Behavioral Diabetes Institute) that reveals psychosocial forces behind diabetes self-management — tools to break through resistance and inspire change.

Read more below

🌟Registration Options at a Glance

📜 Essentials

Registration
+ Printed Syllabus

$559.00

🌟 Deluxe

Essentials
+ ADA Standards Book

$589.00

🏆 Complete – Best Value!

Deluxe
+ ADCES Review Guide e-Book

$669.00

5 Reasons to Attend

  1. Led by national experts 👩‍⚕️Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Coach Beverly 🧢 (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig (nutrition whiz).
  2. 🌴 Location makes for a great vacation
  3. Networking, walking paths, connection
  4. Ready yourself for the diabetes future🚀
  5. Have fun, win prizes, play DiaBingo 😄

What's Included?

  • 🍽️ Healthy breakfasts, lunch, refreshments and coffee ☕
  • 📘 100-page printed syllabus
  • 🎤 2 days of engaging, expert-led education with case studies.
  • 🎓 12 FREE online courses ($375 value)
  • Free MedPocketCard & Coach Bev’s Book 📗 Healing through Connection.

Add on a 3rd Day!
Enroll in ENGAGING THE DISENGAGED
Strategies for Promoting Behavior Change in Diabetes
October 24, 2026

Transform how you engage patients with diabetes — master behavior change, reduce distress, and overcome medication hesitancy.

Why do so many patients know what they should do — but still struggle to do it?

The answer lies in the psychology of diabetes.

In this transformative full-day course, world-renowned experts William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES, and Susan Guzman, PhD, from the Behavioral Diabetes Institute reveal the hidden psychosocial forces that drive — or derail — diabetes self-management.

You’ll walk away with a completely new toolkit for breaking through patient resistance, dissolving medication hesitancy, and creating clinical encounters that actually inspire change!

Test Your Knowledge Tuesday | What are the latest nutrition guidelines for diabetes?

Which of the following best reflects the ADA’s current nutrition guidance for people with diabetes?

  • A. Choose a Mediterranean or low-carbohydrate diet, because these evidence-based approaches are proven effective for diabetes management
  • B. Focus primarily on carbohydrate quantity and recommend limiting fruit, legumes, and whole grains because they contain excessive carbohydrate content.
  • C. Emphasize nonstarchy vegetables, whole fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy or nondairy alternatives.
  • D. Focus on a carbohydrate-controlled meal plan, primarily eliminating added sugar and saturated fat.

Want to Learn More about this MNT?

Join us live in San Diego for our

DiabetesEd Training Program

Brand new agenda for 2026!

🌟Updated Schedule: ADA Boot Camp, Tech, MNT & More

Live in Beautiful San Diego – Oct 22-23, 2026

Re-Ignite your Passion & Prepare for Diabetes Certification Exams

🎓 Earn 30+ CEs: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!

📅

2-Day Conference

Oct 22–23, 2026

⏱️

15.5 Live CEs

+ 17 bonus CEs

🏅

CDCES & BC-ADM

Exam Prep + Renewal

📍

San Diego, CA

1.7 mi from airport

Advance Your Expertise and Prepare for Your Future

The field of diabetes care is expanding and evolving rapidly. This unique training conference will keep you on the cutting edge plus prepare you for certification exams. It also fulfills the Standards of Care renewal requirement. Join us for two days of intensive education that is fun and inspiring. Add on the optional Day 3 (Engaging the Disengaged), to complete your conference exeperience.

Day 1 – ADA/AACE Standards of Care Boot Camp

Coach Beverly and Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES co-lead an exciting day that brings the ADA and AACE Standards to life. Gain fresh insights, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of the latest in person-centered diabetes care. After attending, you will be empowered to share the latest in diabetes care with your colleagues and the people in your care.

Day 2 – Insulin, Tech, MNT and Case Studies

Take your knowledge to the next level with this intensive deep-dive into insulin therapy, dosing and pattern management with Dr. Diana Isaacs. Next, stay for the diabetes tech show-and-tell as Diana demonstrates the specs of the latest pumps and sensors. After lunch, nutrition whiz Christine Craig, MS, RDN, CDCES expertly details the latest in MNT and provides real strategies on translating this content to your clinical practice. You will have a chance to put it all together as Coach Beverly leads you through a series of case studies that integrates content from Day 1 and Day 2.

Add-On Day 3 – Engaging the Disengaged

On Saturday, join this exceptional day-long program led by William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES & Susan Guzman, PhD (Behavioral Diabetes Institute) that reveals psychosocial forces behind diabetes self-management — tools to break through resistance and inspire change.

Read more below

🌟Registration Options at a Glance

📜 Essentials

Registration
+ Printed Syllabus

$559.00

🌟 Deluxe

Essentials
+ ADA Standards Book

$589.00

🏆 Complete – Best Value!

Deluxe
+ ADCES Review Guide e-Book

$669.00

5 Reasons to Attend

  1. Led by national experts 👩‍⚕️Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Coach Beverly 🧢 (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig (nutrition whiz).
  2. 🌴 Location makes for a great vacation
  3. Networking, walking paths, connection
  4. Ready yourself for the diabetes future🚀
  5. Have fun, win prizes, play DiaBingo 😄

What's Included?

  • 🍽️ Healthy breakfasts, lunch, refreshments and coffee ☕
  • 📘 100-page printed syllabus
  • 🎤 2 days of engaging, expert-led education with case studies.
  • 🎓 12 FREE online courses ($375 value)
  • Free MedPocketCard & Coach Bev’s Book 📗 Healing through Connection.

Add on a 3rd Day!
Enroll in ENGAGING THE DISENGAGED
Strategies for Promoting Behavior Change in Diabetes
October 24, 2026

Transform how you engage patients with diabetes — master behavior change, reduce distress, and overcome medication hesitancy.

Why do so many patients know what they should do — but still struggle to do it?

The answer lies in the psychology of diabetes.

In this transformative full-day course, world-renowned experts William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES, and Susan Guzman, PhD, from the Behavioral Diabetes Institute reveal the hidden psychosocial forces that drive — or derail — diabetes self-management.

You’ll walk away with a completely new toolkit for breaking through patient resistance, dissolving medication hesitancy, and creating clinical encounters that actually inspire change!

What’s The Best Answer Thursday | Modifications needed for diabetes therapy plan? Best response?

For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on which response BEST supports sustainable medication-taking. 68% 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 by clicking here.

CJ is living with type 1 diabetes and calls the diabetes-education clinic, recently learning she is 7-weeks gestation. CJ uses a hybrid closed-loop (automated insulin delivery or AID) insulin pump system with continuous glucose monitoring that is set to a target to 110 mg/dl. The Ambulatory Glucose Profile report was reviewed for the past 2 weeks and findings show increasing postprandial hyperglycemia, with average post-meal readings of 170–220 mg/dL. Time in Range (TIR) is 72% (70-180 mg/dl) with 1% of Time below Range. The total daily insulin dose has increased approximately 10% over the same period. And CJ reports no significant changes to diet, activity, or carbohydrate intake. CJ asks if any modifications are need to the diabetes therapy plan?

What can we tell CJ?

  • A. Reassure her that increasing insulin resistance is expected as pregnancy progresses and suggest an increase in her basal insulin by 10-20%.
  • B. Discontinue the AID system and transition her to manual mode pump therapy since, since AID systems are not intended for use in pregnancy.
  • C. Time is Range is over 70%, meeting the ADA Standard of Care targets, however, due to post-prandial hyperglycemia recommend a lower (more aggressive) insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio.
  • D. Confirm her current AID system and review pregnancy specific glucose targets, capabilities, settings and limitations before recommending any changes.

Getting to the Best Answer

If you are thinking about taking the certification exam, this practice test question will set you up for success. Test writers anticipate possible answers based on the details in the question. They will wave those “juicy answers” right under your nose. Your job is to weed through the particulars, pluck out the most important elements and choose the BEST answer.

Answer A is incorrect. 9.65% chose this answer: “Reassure her that increasing insulin resistance is expected as pregnancy progresses and suggest an increase in her basal insulin by 10-20%.”

Although we will anticipate an increase in insulin needs as pregnancy progresses, we do not yet have enough information to increase the basal rate. The pattern identified above was post-prandial hyperglycemia, making a recommendation for basal increase without additional information inappropriate.

Answer B is incorrect. 5.26% of you chose this answer, “Discontinue the AID system and transition her to manual mode pump therapy since, since AID systems are not intended for use in pregnancy.”

Pregnancy is not, by itself, a reason to discontinue AID. The use of AID during pregnancy is an evolving area, and the appropriateness of continued use depends on the specific system and its regulatory status, capabilities, and glucose targets. In April 2026, the FDA cleared Tandem’s Control-IQ+ technology1 for use during pregnancy in people with type 1 diabetes. Other AID systems may have different indications or may be used off-label. Additional assessment is recommended before AID discontinuation.

Answer C is incorrect. 16.67% of respondents chose this: “Time is Range is over 70%, meeting the ADA Standard of Care targets, however, due to post-prandial hyperglycemia recommend a lower (more aggressive) insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio.”

A lower (more aggressive) insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio may ultimately be appropriate for persistent postprandial hyperglycemia, but the initial TIR reported uses the standard 70–180 mg/dL range and does not adequately assess pregnancy-specific glycemic targets. For pregnant individuals with type 1 diabetes, the recommended CGM target range is 63–140 mg/dL, with a goal of spending >70% of time in this range. Additional goals include <4% time below 63 mg/dL, <1% below 54 mg/dL, and <25% above 140 mg/dL.2

Finally, Answer D is correct. 68.42% chose this answer: “Confirm her current AID system and review pregnancy specific glucose targets, capabilities, settings and limitations before recommending any changes.”

Great job! You chose the best answer. The first step is to confirm the specific AID system and review its pregnancy-specific indications, glucose targets (as stated in rationale answer C), algorithm capabilities, and current settings. CJ’s postprandial readings of 170–220 mg/dL are above pregnancy-specific glucose targets, but the appropriate intervention depends on the system and the pattern identified on the updated AGP report. Further assessment may include meal and bolus timing, carbohydrate entries, insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios, correction settings, and other system-specific parameters. Any insulin adjustments should be made in collaboration with her diabetes and pregnancy care team.

We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Test You Knowledge Tuesday and participate in this fun learning activity!

Want to Learn More about this Question?

Join us live in San Diego for our

DiabetesEd Training Program

Brand new agenda for 2026!

🌟Updated Schedule: ADA Boot Camp, Tech, MNT & More

Live in Beautiful San Diego – Oct 22-23, 2026

Re-Ignite your Passion & Prepare for Diabetes Certification Exams

🎓 Earn 30+ CEs: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!

📅

2-Day Conference

Oct 22–23, 2026

⏱️

15.5 Live CEs

+ 17 bonus CEs

🏅

CDCES & BC-ADM

Exam Prep + Renewal

📍

San Diego, CA

1.7 mi from airport

Advance Your Expertise and Prepare for Your Future

The field of diabetes care is expanding and evolving rapidly. This unique training conference will keep you on the cutting edge plus prepare you for certification exams. It also fulfills the Standards of Care renewal requirement. Join us for two days of intensive education that is fun and inspiring. Add on the optional Day 3 (Engaging the Disengaged), to complete your conference exeperience.

Day 1 – ADA/AACE Standards of Care Boot Camp

Coach Beverly and Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES co-lead an exciting day that brings the ADA and AACE Standards to life. Gain fresh insights, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of the latest in person-centered diabetes care. After attending, you will be empowered to share the latest in diabetes care with your colleagues and the people in your care.

Day 2 – Insulin, Tech, MNT and Case Studies

Take your knowledge to the next level with this intensive deep-dive into insulin therapy, dosing and pattern management with Dr. Diana Isaacs. Next, stay for the diabetes tech show-and-tell as Diana demonstrates the specs of the latest pumps and sensors. After lunch, nutrition whiz Christine Craig, MS, RDN, CDCES expertly details the latest in MNT and provides real strategies on translating this content to your clinical practice. You will have a chance to put it all together as Coach Beverly leads you through a series of case studies that integrates content from Day 1 and Day 2.

Add-On Day 3 – Engaging the Disengaged

On Saturday, join this exceptional day-long program led by William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES & Susan Guzman, PhD (Behavioral Diabetes Institute) that reveals psychosocial forces behind diabetes self-management — tools to break through resistance and inspire change.

Read more below

🌟Registration Options at a Glance

📜 Essentials

Registration
+ Printed Syllabus

$559.00

🌟 Deluxe

Essentials
+ ADA Standards Book

$589.00

🏆 Complete – Best Value!

Deluxe
+ ADCES Review Guide e-Book

$669.00

5 Reasons to Attend

  1. Led by national experts 👩‍⚕️Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Coach Beverly 🧢 (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig (nutrition whiz).
  2. 🌴 Location makes for a great vacation
  3. Networking, walking paths, connection
  4. Ready yourself for the diabetes future🚀
  5. Have fun, win prizes, play DiaBingo 😄

What's Included?

  • 🍽️ Healthy breakfasts, lunch, refreshments and coffee ☕
  • 📘 100-page printed syllabus
  • 🎤 2 days of engaging, expert-led education with case studies.
  • 🎓 12 FREE online courses ($375 value)
  • Free MedPocketCard & Coach Bev’s Book 📗 Healing through Connection.

Add on a 3rd Day!
Enroll in ENGAGING THE DISENGAGED
Strategies for Promoting Behavior Change in Diabetes
October 24, 2026

Transform how you engage patients with diabetes — master behavior change, reduce distress, and overcome medication hesitancy.

Why do so many patients know what they should do — but still struggle to do it?

The answer lies in the psychology of diabetes.

In this transformative full-day course, world-renowned experts William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES, and Susan Guzman, PhD, from the Behavioral Diabetes Institute reveal the hidden psychosocial forces that drive — or derail — diabetes self-management.

You’ll walk away with a completely new toolkit for breaking through patient resistance, dissolving medication hesitancy, and creating clinical encounters that actually inspire change!

What We Wish We Knew: Lessons from Diabetes Entrepreneurs | ADCES Conference Panelist 2026

Presenters at ADCES (pictured above, from left to right):

  • Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM 
  • Sarah Hormachea, MS, RD, CDCES, BC-ADM 
  • Russ Powell, MS, RD, CDCES, BC-ADM
  • Vivian Ayuk, PharmD, CDCES

Sarah Homarchea, RD, MS, CDCES, BC-ADM, moderated the ADCES Conference Diabetes Entrepreneurs panel session, which was a hit!

With over 100 attendees and standing room only, we were pleasantly surprised with the incredible turnout. It reinforced just how much interest and appetite there is for entrepreneurship within our field.

We asked the panel of speakers, along with the panel moderator, Ms. Hormachea, to share their top pieces of wisdom for diabetes health care professionals who are thinking about starting their own side-hustle or consulting gig, each of the 4 panel members had some fantastic advice and insights to share.

Lasting Wisdom from the Panelists

As diabetes care and education specialists, our expertise is in high demand, but there are rarely enough of us to go around. Many clinics also lack the resources to bring that expertise on full-time. Entrepreneurship offers creative ways to bridge that gap, expanding access to high-quality diabetes care while creating new opportunities to use our expertise.

When I first ventured into entrepreneurship, it felt scary, uncertain, and largely uncharted. There was no playbook. I decided the best way to understand what was possible was to learn from those who had gone before me. Admittedly, my own desire to learn from the pros helped inspire the idea for an entrepreneurship panel, where I could ask the questions many of us want answered and perhaps uncover a few industry secrets along the way.

With that, I’m pleased to turn it over to our panelists to share their experiences, insights, and words of wisdom.

We asked the panelists to share 3 or 4 takeaways that they felt could most benefit diabetes healthcare professionals considering taking a dive into entrepreneurship. Here is what they said:

Picture of Russ Powell, MS, RD, CDCES, BC-ADM

Russ Powell, MS, RD, CDCES, BC-ADM

www.russpowellnutrition.com

1. Build the business model around the outcome you want your clients to reach, not around the format you are most comfortable delivering.

When I started my practice in 2019, I assumed one-to-one care was the only serious way to do clinical work. What I learned is that the delivery model has to match where the person actually is. Someone newly diagnosed and still in shock needs a different container than someone two years in who just wants a plan they can follow on their own. That is why my practice runs as a hybrid now, with one-to-one coaching through both insurance and private pay, a self-paced course, and group programming. The clinical standard does not change across those formats. What changes is the level of access, and pricing your work along that spectrum lets you serve more people without diluting the care or burning yourself out trying to be everywhere at once.

2. You do not have to jump without a net, and staying employed while you build is not a lack of commitment.

There is a story in entrepreneurial circles that the leap must be total and immediate. That story leaves out how many of us built something durable precisely because we were not making desperate decisions with our pricing or our client selection. While starting my practice, I held a corporate role while growing my business, and that stability let me say no to work that was not the right fit, invest in systems before I technically needed them, and let the business grow at a pace that made clinical sense. Build your runway, define your exit trigger using concrete numbers rather than feelings, and then move.

3. Your systems turn a practice into a business, and you should build them before you feel ready.

The clinical training we get is excellent. The business training is nearly nonexistent, so most of us learn operations the expensive way. The things that separated my practice from a very busy job were unglamorous: a documentation workflow I could actually sustain, clear standards for when clients hear back from me, insurance credentialing done correctly the first time, and written procedures for the tasks I repeat every week. Systems protect your time, and protecting your time is what makes you available for the deep clinical thinking your clients are actually paying you for. If you are waiting until you are big enough to need SOPs, you are already past the point where they would have saved you the most.

Fifteen Years In, Still Learning

Fifteen years ago, I did the scariest thing I have ever done. I started a business.
I have never regretted it. Have I questioned it loudly, usually around 2 a.m? Yes. Being excellent at what you do and knowing how to build a business around it are two completely different skills. The first gets you in the door. The second is the actual job. Three things I wish someone had handed me on day one.

1. The business grows the leader, not just the craft

Whatever you are brilliant at is the entry ticket, not the job. The job is a set of skills the majority of us, as diabetes care and education specialists, were never taught.

  • Financial fluency. You do not need an MBA, but you do need to stop finding numbers boring. In addition to the basics of learning how to start a business, licensing, etc. You need to understand margins, cash flow, pricing, and the difference between revenue and money you can actually spend.
  • Storytelling. You will sell constantly to customers, your first hire, and people who have been let down before. Selling is not manipulation. It is making something true also feel compelling.
  • Choosing your people for the long horizon. Someone wiser than me once said, “Play long-term games with long-term people.” A lesson I learned the hard way, especially when choosing partners and hiring employees. A short-term win with the wrong person costs more than it returns, every time.
  • Deciding anyway. Your training taught you to wait for sufficient evidence. Entrepreneurship punishes waiting. You will decide on incomplete information, be wrong sometimes, and correct fast.

2. Leverage is the whole game

The question stops being “how well can I do this?” and becomes “how does this happen a thousand times, without me in the room?” Three answers.

  • Technology. Well-chosen tools let you serve more people across distance and schedules. It breaks down barriers that would otherwise keep potential customers away. We now have access to AI tools that can handle meeting prep, summaries, drafts, and follow-ups. Use them wisely. It does not replace your judgment. It gives you back the hours to apply it.
  • Data. Track outcomes from day one, even when the numbers are small and unflattering. Stories move people; data moves institutions and partners.
  • People. Delegate outcomes, not tasks. Hand someone the result and the authority to reach it, then step back. You must release the belief that only you can do it right. Even when it is accurate, because a business that depends entirely on you is not a business.

3. Sustainability is designed, not discovered

Burnout is not what happens when you work too hard. It is what happens when you never design for the long term.

  • Protect your calendar. Block the deep work and the family time before the calendar fills. An empty calendar isn’t freedom, but it is an invitation for other people’s priorities to move in.
  • Stay close to why you started. Schedule contact with the people you serve. Hearing that your work changed something for someone restores more than any time off- usually the first thing to vanish as you grow.
  • Practice what you preach. Sleep, movement, rest. A founder visibly falling apart while promoting a healthier way of working is a contradiction everyone can see.

I can’t think of a better way to capture the importance of authenticity – of knowing who you are, what you stand for, and staying true to those values as you build your business – than these wise words from Dolly Parton:

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose. And do it with purpose. Don’t ever sacrifice who you are, your principles and your morals and your values to just try to get ahead in business. It ain’t worth it.”

1. Let your purpose guide your decisions.

There will always be new opportunities, competing priorities, and plenty of advice about what you should do. Keep coming back to your why.

Ask yourself: Does this opportunity align with who I am, the people I want to serve, and the difference I want to make? Your purpose can be your compass when the path forward isn’t clear.

Coach Bev wisdom: “Pursue opportunities that align with your purpose.”

2. Stay curious—and treasure the people you serve.

Successful entrepreneurs need to build community and invest in people. Ask questions. Listen carefully. Pay attention to what people are struggling with, what they’re asking for, and what would make their lives better. Your customers will help you steer the ship in uncertain waters.

Coach Bev wisdom: “The greatest growth in my business has come not from marketing campaigns, but from listening to, learning from, and cherishing the community we serve.”

3. Learn the business of running a business.

You may be passionate about your work, but being an entrepreneur also means learning how to run a healthy business. Educate yourself about bookkeeping, budgeting, taxes, contracts, pricing, insurance, and cash flow. Know your numbers, understand where your money is coming from and where it’s going, and hire experts when you need them. You don’t have to become an accountant, but you do need to understand the financial health of your business.

Coach Bev wisdom: “Follow your passion—but know your numbers.”

4. Build something that reflects your values and be generous with information sharing.

Success isn’t only about revenue or growth. It’s about creating something you’re proud to put your name on. Treat people well, surround yourself with good humans, give back when you can, and make sure your work still brings you a sense of purpose and joy.

Coach Bev wisdom:  “Build a business that makes a living—but also makes a difference.”

Join us live DiabetesEd Training Conference in San Diego

for More Lasting Wisdom from Diabetes Educators for Diabetes Educators

Led by national experts Dr. Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES (Cleveland Clinic), Coach Beverly, RN, MPH, BC-ADM, CDCES (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig, RDN, MS, CDCES (nutrition whiz).

Brand new agenda for 2026!

🌟Updated Schedule: ADA Boot Camp, Tech, MNT & More

Live in Beautiful San Diego – Oct 22-23, 2026

🎓 Earn 30+ CEs: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!

📅

2-Day Conference

Oct 22–23, 2026

⏱️

15.5 Live CEs

+ 17 bonus CEs

🏅

CDCES & BC-ADM

Exam Prep + Renewal

📍

San Diego, CA

1.7 mi from airport

Advance Your Expertise and Prepare for Your Future

The field of diabetes care is expanding and evolving rapidly. This unique training conference will keep you on the cutting edge plus prepare you for certification exams. It also fulfills the Standards of Care renewal requirement. Join us for two days of intensive education that is fun and inspiring. Add on the optional Day 3 (Engaging the Disengaged), to complete your conference exeperience.

Day 1 – ADA/AACE Standards of Care Boot Camp

Coach Beverly and Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES co-lead an exciting day that brings the ADA and AACE Standards to life. Gain fresh insights, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of the latest in person-centered diabetes care. After attending, you will be empowered to share the latest in diabetes care with your colleagues and the people in your care.

Day 2 – Insulin, Tech, MNT and Case Studies

Take your knowledge to the next level with this intensive deep-dive into insulin therapy, dosing and pattern management with Dr. Diana Isaacs. Next, stay for the diabetes tech show-and-tell as Diana demonstrates the specs of the latest pumps and sensors. After lunch, nutrition whiz Christine Craig, MS, RDN, CDCES expertly details the latest in MNT and provides real strategies on translating this content to your clinical practice. You will have a chance to put it all together as Coach Beverly leads you through a series of case studies that integrates content from Day 1 and Day 2.

Add-On Day 3 – Engaging the Disengaged

On Saturday, join this exceptional day-long program led by William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES & Susan Guzman, PhD (Behavioral Diabetes Institute) that reveals psychosocial forces behind diabetes self-management — tools to break through resistance and inspire change.

Read more below

🌟Registration Options at a Glance

📜 Essentials

Registration
+ Printed Syllabus

$559.00

🌟 Deluxe

Essentials
+ ADA Standards Book

$589.00

🏆 Complete – Best Value!

Deluxe
+ ADCES Review Guide e-Book

$669.00

5 Reasons to Attend

  1. Led by national experts 👩‍⚕️Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Coach Beverly 🧢 (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig (nutrition whiz).
  2. 🌴 Location makes for a great vacation
  3. Networking, walking paths, connection
  4. Ready yourself for the diabetes future🚀
  5. Have fun, win prizes, play DiaBingo 😄

What's Included?

  • 🍽️ Healthy breakfasts, lunch, refreshments and coffee ☕
  • 📘 100-page printed syllabus
  • 🎤 2 days of engaging, expert-led education with case studies.
  • 🎓 12 FREE online courses ($375 value)
  • Free MedPocketCard & Coach Bev’s Book 📗 Healing through Connection.

Add on a 3rd Day!
Enroll in ENGAGING THE DISENGAGED
Strategies for Promoting Behavior Change in Diabetes
October 24, 2026

Transform how you engage patients with diabetes — master behavior change, reduce distress, and overcome medication hesitancy.

Why do so many patients know what they should do — but still struggle to do it?

The answer lies in the psychology of diabetes.

In this transformative full-day course, world-renowned experts William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES, and Susan Guzman, PhD, from the Behavioral Diabetes Institute reveal the hidden psychosocial forces that drive — or derail — diabetes self-management.

You’ll walk away with a completely new toolkit for breaking through patient resistance, dissolving medication hesitancy, and creating clinical encounters that actually inspire change!

Test Your Knowledge Tuesday | Does AACE recommend meds to treat prediabetes?

A 36-year-old has an A1C of 6.2%, BMI of 36, hypertension, and a strong family history of type 2 diabetes. Despite sustained nutrition and physical activity interventions, they can’t seem to lower their A1C. They ask whether medication could help reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Which approach is MOST consistent with American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) recommendations?

  • A. Avoid pharmacologic treatment until the A1C or FPG reaches the diagnostic threshold for diabetes.
  • B. Consider pharmacotherapy, including metformin or GLP-1–based therapy to reduce metabolic risk.
  • C. Initiate a sulfonylurea to improve beta-cell function and prevent progression to type 2 diabetes.
  • D. Initiate basal insulin to preserve pancreatic beta-cell function and lower A1C.

Want to Learn More about this Question?

Join us live in San Diego for our

DiabetesEd Training Program

Brand new agenda for 2026!

🌟Updated Schedule: ADA Boot Camp, Tech, MNT & More

Live in Beautiful San Diego – Oct 22-23, 2026

Re-Ignite your Passion & Prepare for Diabetes Certification Exams

🎓 Earn 30+ CEs: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!

📅

2-Day Conference

Oct 22–23, 2026

⏱️

15.5 Live CEs

+ 17 bonus CEs

🏅

CDCES & BC-ADM

Exam Prep + Renewal

📍

San Diego, CA

1.7 mi from airport

Advance Your Expertise and Prepare for Your Future

The field of diabetes care is expanding and evolving rapidly. This unique training conference will keep you on the cutting edge plus prepare you for certification exams. It also fulfills the Standards of Care renewal requirement. Join us for two days of intensive education that is fun and inspiring. Add on the optional Day 3 (Engaging the Disengaged), to complete your conference exeperience.

Day 1 – ADA/AACE Standards of Care Boot Camp

Coach Beverly and Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES co-lead an exciting day that brings the ADA and AACE Standards to life. Gain fresh insights, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of the latest in person-centered diabetes care. After attending, you will be empowered to share the latest in diabetes care with your colleagues and the people in your care.

Day 2 – Insulin, Tech, MNT and Case Studies

Take your knowledge to the next level with this intensive deep-dive into insulin therapy, dosing and pattern management with Dr. Diana Isaacs. Next, stay for the diabetes tech show-and-tell as Diana demonstrates the specs of the latest pumps and sensors. After lunch, nutrition whiz Christine Craig, MS, RDN, CDCES expertly details the latest in MNT and provides real strategies on translating this content to your clinical practice. You will have a chance to put it all together as Coach Beverly leads you through a series of case studies that integrates content from Day 1 and Day 2.

Add-On Day 3 – Engaging the Disengaged

On Saturday, join this exceptional day-long program led by William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES & Susan Guzman, PhD (Behavioral Diabetes Institute) that reveals psychosocial forces behind diabetes self-management — tools to break through resistance and inspire change.

Read more below

🌟Registration Options at a Glance

📜 Essentials

Registration
+ Printed Syllabus

$559.00

🌟 Deluxe

Essentials
+ ADA Standards Book

$589.00

🏆 Complete – Best Value!

Deluxe
+ ADCES Review Guide e-Book

$669.00

5 Reasons to Attend

  1. Led by national experts 👩‍⚕️Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Coach Beverly 🧢 (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig (nutrition whiz).
  2. 🌴 Location makes for a great vacation
  3. Networking, walking paths, connection
  4. Ready yourself for the diabetes future🚀
  5. Have fun, win prizes, play DiaBingo 😄

What's Included?

  • 🍽️ Healthy breakfasts, lunch, refreshments and coffee ☕
  • 📘 100-page printed syllabus
  • 🎤 2 days of engaging, expert-led education with case studies.
  • 🎓 12 FREE online courses ($375 value)
  • Free MedPocketCard & Coach Bev’s Book 📗 Healing through Connection.

Add on a 3rd Day!
Enroll in ENGAGING THE DISENGAGED
Strategies for Promoting Behavior Change in Diabetes
October 24, 2026

Transform how you engage patients with diabetes — master behavior change, reduce distress, and overcome medication hesitancy.

Why do so many patients know what they should do — but still struggle to do it?

The answer lies in the psychology of diabetes.

In this transformative full-day course, world-renowned experts William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES, and Susan Guzman, PhD, from the Behavioral Diabetes Institute reveal the hidden psychosocial forces that drive — or derail — diabetes self-management.

You’ll walk away with a completely new toolkit for breaking through patient resistance, dissolving medication hesitancy, and creating clinical encounters that actually inspire change!

September 2026 Mid-Month e-News | Keep Working & Scooping Ice Cream

Mid-Month e-News

I’m getting to the age when people occasionally ask me, “So, how much longer are you going to work?”

Ouch.

I pat down my ruffled feathers, smile, and remind them that some of the world’s most influential leaders have stepped into their greatest roles later in life.

And at 63, I feel like I’m just getting warmed up.

I am the best version of myself—clear-headed, comfortable in my own skin, and genuinely excited about the future. Sure, I have a few health challenges (like so many of us), but I refuse to let them dampen my joie de vivre or my enthusiasm for the work I love.

After more than 30 years in diabetes education, I remain fiercely passionate about helping healthcare professionals grow their knowledge, achieve certification, and reaffirm the joy and purpose in the work they do.

Leading my company sometimes feels like running Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory for diabetes education. Me and Bryanna get to dream up the next great idea, sprinkle in some creativity, mix it with evidence-based science—and then make it happen.

Recently, I heard a longevity expert, Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, say that two secrets to a longer life are to keep working and eat ice cream.

Now that is a wellness plan I can get behind.

So, retirement? Not yet.

Over the next decade, I want to do more of what brings me the greatest joy: traveling, teaching, and connecting with healthcare professionals—live and in person.

I have a whole library of presentations ready to go, from the latest advances in diabetes care to Healing through Connection, provider well-being, certification success, and bringing more joy and creativity into healthcare. And if your organization has a topic or challenge you’d like addressed, I’d love to create something especially for your team.

If you’re looking for an experienced speaker who brings evidence-based science, practical wisdom, humor, heart, and a little unexpected fun to the stage—send me an invitation.

I’m ready to pack my purple shoes and come see you. 💜

With hearts full of gratitude,

Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Ashlie, and Katarina

Welcoming Fall Sale

Save 20% on All Online Programs

Expires September 22, 2026

Standards of Care Review with Coach Bev

Repeat Performance by Popular Demand on October 28th!

“What can I say other than it was impressive. The ADA SOC review was well presented. The enthusiasm was simply delightful.”

If you didn’t have the chance to join Coach Beverly’s LIVE presentation of the Standards, now is your chance. As busy healthcare professionals, we understand you may not have time to read all 350+ pages of the ADA Standards. We have a solution. Join Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM for an in-depth exploration of all 16 ADA Standards of Care. This painless process will keep you up-to-date, plus you earn CE’s and fulfill your Standards of Care Requirement.

You don’t want to miss this course taught by two experts in the field:

William Polonsky, PhD, CDCES, and Susan Guzman!

It’s taking place in beautiful San Diego on Saturday, October 24th, the same week as our DiabetesEd Live Seminar on Oct 22-23 (read more below).

Sign up for both – save on travel and get diabetes re-energized!

See you there 🧢 Coach Beverly

Invite Coach Beverly!

Keynotes | CE Courses | Worksite Training | Cert. Prep

Founder & CEO of DiabetesEd Services

bev Circle leopard 2 (1)

Bring Coach Beverly to Your Next Event!

Looking for a speaker who can deliver evidence-based diabetes education with energy, heart, and a dose of fun?

Invite Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM (Coach Beverly) to your next conference, healthcare meeting, or professional education event. Coach Beverly loves teaching in person, connecting with healthcare professionals, and transforming complex diabetes science into practical strategies clinicians can use right away.

Whether you are looking for an inspiring 60–90 minute keynote or an immersive full-day diabetes training, Coach Beverly can customize the experience for your audience.

Keynote Presentations

CE Courses

Worksite Training

Certification Prep

You Asked. We Listened: Lower Prices on Top CE Bundles

Original Pricing: Starting at $449

New Pricing: Starting at $399

Original Pricing: Starting at $459

New Pricing: Starting at $399

Original Pricing: Starting at $519

New Pricing: Starting at $499

Original Pricing: $669

New Pricing: $599

Keynote & Featured Presentations

  • Healing through Connection for Healthcare Professionals
  • Beyond the Rhinestones: What Dolly Can Teach Us About Diabetes Care
  • Standards of Care Intensive: ADA & AACE Updates
  • From the Gut to the Butt: The GI System and Diabetes
    How to Enter the Field of Diabetes Education and Achieve CDCES or BC-ADM Certification & more

Beverly teaches over 30 Courses in our Online University. Click here to see a listing of other potential topics!

Full-Day Presentations

  • ADA & AACE Standards Boot Camp – Team-taught by Coach Beverly and Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BC-ADM, CDCES
  • Hospitals & Hyperglycemia: From Admission to Discharge
  • Diabetes: From the Basics to Beyond — Providing Evidence-Based, Person-Centered Care & more

With decades of experience as a diabetes nurse specialist, educator, author, and national speaker, Coach Beverly brings together science, clinical expertise, storytelling, humor, and heart to create learning experiences healthcare professionals remember long after the presentation ends.

What’s The Best Answer Thursday | Which response BEST supports sustainable medication-taking?

For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on which response BEST supports sustainable medication-taking. 77% 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 by clicking here.

Jordan is a 52-year-old person living with type 2 diabetes whose provider recently added a second daily medication after their A1C rose from 7.6% to 9.1%. Jordan works alternating shifts and cares for an aging parent. At a follow-up visit, Jordan reports consistently taking their morning dose but missing the evening dose “more nights than not.”

Jordan says, “My schedule’s never the same two days in a row. By the time I remember, I’ve already gone to bed.” 

Which response by the diabetes care and education specialist best supports sustainable medication-taking?

  • A. “Missing doses can raise your glucose and increase your risk of complications. Let’s set a daily 8 PM phone alarm so you don’t forget, and I’ll check your adherence at the next visit.”
  • B. “Your evenings sound unpredictable in a good and hard way. Is there something you do most nights, no matter what shift you’ve worked, that we could anchor this dose to?”
  • C. “Since mornings are working well, let’s move you to a pill organizer with both doses pre-sorted by day, so you can just take whatever’s next whenever you think of it.”
  • D. “Would it help if your parent reminded you each evening? Having someone else keep track might take the pressure off you.”

Getting to the Best Answer

If you are thinking about taking the certification exam, this practice test question will set you up for success. Test writers anticipate possible answers based on the details in the question. They will wave those “juicy answers” right under your nose. Your job is to weed through the particulars, pluck out the most important elements and choose the BEST answer.

Answer A is incorrect. 10.67% chose this answer: “Missing doses can raise your glucose and increase your risk of complications. Let’s set a daily 8 PM phone alarm so you don’t forget, and I’ll check your adherence at the next visit.”

This response is clinically accurate about the risks of missed doses, but it jumps to a fixed, externally chosen solution, a specific alarm time, without first understanding why the current routine isn’t working. A rotating shift schedule makes a single fixed time an unreliable anchor from the start, and framing the follow-up as adherence “checking” rather than problem-solving together can heighten shame rather than support change.

Answer B is correct. 81.33% of you chose this answer, “What types of movement have you enjoyed in the past, and who might you enjoy doing them with?”

Great job! This is the correct answer. This response explores Jordan’s actual daily rhythm before proposing anything, and it reframes an unpredictable schedule as a legitimate constraint to design around rather than a compliance problem. It supports the three psychological needs described in Self-Determination Theory.

Answer C is incorrect. 5.33% of respondents chose this: “Since mornings are working well, let’s move you to a pill organizer with both doses pre-sorted by day, so you can just take whatever’s next whenever you think of it.”

A pre-sorted pill organizer is a reasonable adherence tool in general, but this response solves the packaging problem while leaving the timing problem—the actual barrier Jordan described —unaddressed. “Whenever you think of it” doesn’t give Jordan a reliable cue any more than the current routine does. As with option A, a plausible-sounding tool is offered before the clinician has understood what’s actually failing.

Finally, Answer D is incorrect. 2.67% chose this answer: “Would it help if your parent reminded you each evening? Having someone else keep track might take the pressure off you.”

Involving a family member can be appropriate, but only when the person wants that kind of support. Jordan didn’t raise their parent as a source of help; they described their parent as someone they care for, which may make an added caregiving-adjacent responsibility unwelcome or even reverse the relatedness this response is trying to invoke. SDT’s relatedness means Jordan feels understood and supported on their own terms, not that responsibility is redistributed without checking first.

We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Test You Knowledge Tuesday and participate in this fun learning activity!

Want to Learn More about this Question?

Enroll in Evgeniya Evans webinar

From Compliance to Connection: Positive Psychology Strategies for Lasting Change in Diabetes Care Webinar

People living with diabetes are often well informed about actions needed to shift into a “healthy lifestyle”, yet often struggle to sustain health behaviors over time. This webinar introduces a positive psychology lens for diabetes care, showing how clinicians can help individuals with diabetes build lifestyles that feel psychologically nourishing, not just medically correct. Rather than focusing solely on risk and problem-solving, we’ll explore how to weave well-being, motivation, and strengths into everyday diabetes education and support.

Drawing on the PERMA framework—Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment—participants will learn practical strategies to enhance motivation, resilience, and self-management. We’ll examine how PERMA aligns with key behavior-change principles such as autonomy, connection, and confidence-building, and translate these ideas into simple questions, reframes, and counseling approaches that can be used immediately in healthcare professionals’ practice.

How Digital Quality Measures Are Shaping Value-Based Diabetes Care

Author: Marie Frazzitta DNP, FNP-c, PMHNP, CDCES, MBA

Did you know that YOU are practicing in a healthcare system where the traditional fee for service model is giving way to value-based diabetes care, and how essential YOU are in that shift?

As a diabetes professional, you will want to keep up to date on this upheaval of traditional models of care. You have the opportunity to take a leadership role and demonstrate your worth. 

Healthcare is changing, and it is changing quickly. Terms like digital quality measures (dQMs), HEDIS®, STAR Ratings, interoperability, value-based contracting, artificial intelligence, and digital health technology are appearing more frequently in healthcare conversations. 

Healthcare Is Changing | Value-Based Diabetes Care

While some of these concepts may seem far removed from day-to-day diabetes education, they are increasingly influencing how healthcare is delivered, measured, and reimbursed. 

Today’s diabetes technologies such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), connected insulin delivery systems, and digital apps generate rich patient data that support chronic disease management and contribute to digital quality reporting. For diabetes care and education specialists (DCESs), understanding these trends is becoming more than simply staying current. It is about recognizing how our profession can continue to grow and demonstrate value within an evolving healthcare system.

Why Is Healthcare Changing?

Healthcare is shifting because the current system is increasingly unsustainable. Costs continue to rise, outcomes remain uneven, and clinicians face growing administrative and reporting burdens that take time away from patient care. As a result, the United States healthcare system is moving from a fee for service model that rewards volume to one that emphasizes quality, outcomes, patient experience, and cost effectiveness. This shift is reflected in the Quintuple Aim, a framework that defines “what better care” means today.

Originally introduced as the Triple Aim by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, it has expanded to include clinician well-being and health equity. The Quintuple Aim focuses on:

  • Improving population health
  • Enhancing patient experience
  • Improving provider well-being
  • Reducing cost of care
  • Advancing health equity

Achieving these goals requires better data, stronger care coordination, and more meaningful ways to measure quality across the healthcare continuum.

What Are Digital Quality Measures?

Historically, quality measures relied on manual chart reviews or administrative claims data collected long after care was delivered. Today, healthcare is moving toward digital quality measures, which use electronic health records, patient generated health data, and interoperable systems to evaluate care more efficiently and more accurately. Programs such as HEDIS® and Medicare STAR Ratings continue to play an important role in measuring healthcare performance. As quality measurement becomes increasingly digital, organizations are looking for ways to improve outcomes while creating a better experience for both clinicians and the people they serve.

The Burden of Documentation and How Digital Measures Reduce It

Clinicians today are overwhelmed by documentation requirements, reporting tasks, and manual data entry that often feel disconnected from actual patient care. Much of this work happens outside the visit, reviewing charts, pulling reports, reconciling data, and ensuring that quality metrics are accurately captured.

Manual Process

Manual chart reviews- time consuming and prone to error

Data reconciliation- pulling information from multiple systems

Tracking missed care gaps- directly affecting quality scores

Inconsistent documentation- variability across clinicians

Digital Solution

Automated data capture- improves accuracy and reduces variability

Integration of CGM data- connecting patient generated health data directly to quality metric reporting

Real time gap identification-spots missing care gaps such as retinal eye exams or overdue kidney function testing

Reduced administrative burden- frees up clinician time and could lower cost of care

By shifting quality reporting from manual processes to automated digital workflows, healthcare organizations can create a more streamlined experience for both care teams and patients. More accurate and timely data supports better decision making, improved outcomes, and stronger performance in value based care programs.

Updated HEDIS® Measures and the Role of CGM

Recent updates to HEDIS® reflect the growing role of diabetes technology in routine care, particularly CGM’s. For the 2024 measurement year, NCQA updated the Hemoglobin A1c Control for Patients With Diabetes measure and renamed it Glycemic Status Assessment for Patients With Diabetes, allowing either hemoglobin A1c or glucose management indicator (GMI) derived from CGM data to be used when assessing glycemic status.

Looking ahead, NCQA has proposed a new HEDIS measure, Continuous Glucose Monitoring Utilization for Patients With Diabetes, for the 2027 measurement year, which would track CGM use among adults with diabetes. While there is interest in expanding CGM based reporting beyond glucose management indicator to include metrics such as time in range, those elements have not yet been formally incorporated into HEDIS.

Together, these changes reflect a growing alignment between diabetes technology and value-based care, reinforcing CGM as a meaningful tool for improving outcomes and meeting evolving quality expectations.

Why This Matters to Diabetes Healthcare Professionals

As healthcare continues to evolve, you are uniquely positioned to help organizations navigate this transformation. The shift toward digital quality measures, expanded use of CGM data, and growing emphasis on value-based care highlight the need for clinicians who understand both the human side of diabetes and the technology that increasingly supports it. You already excel at patient engagement, technology adoption, behavior change, and chronic disease management, all core drivers of quality performance.

By deepening familiarity with digital reporting, leveraging diabetes technology, and helping with closing care gaps, you can play an even more influential role in improving outcomes and demonstrating value across the healthcare system. This transition represents not just a change in how care is measured, but an opportunity for you to help shape what high quality diabetes care looks like in a digital future.

  • Get ready! Emerging digital tools and quality programs are transforming diabetes care delivery and reporting.
  • HEDIS® updates are increasingly incorporating CGM data, reflecting stronger alignment between diabetes technology and value‑based care.
  • Diabetes Healthcare professionals are uniquely positioned to lead the transition to digital, value‑based diabetes care by leveraging their expertise in engagement, technology adoption, and care gap closure.

Join Marie Frazzitta for the FREE webcast

Sept. 30 at 11:30 am PST 

Lead the Transformation!

Join this exclusive 30‑minute exclusive session, lead by expert Marie Frazzitta, DNP, FNP‑C, PMHNP, CDCES, MBA, who will provide a high‑level overview of how digital quality measures, CGM data, and value‑based care are transforming diabetes care delivery and reporting. You’ll learn how these shifts create new opportunities for diabetes health professionals to lead, demonstrate value, and shape the future of technology‑enabled diabetes care.

Meet National Expert | Marie Frazzitta, FNP‑BC, DNP, MBA, CDCES, PMHNP

Marie is a nurse practitioner and healthcare strategist with experience across health systems, payer organizations, and digital diabetes technology. She brings a rare cross‑sector perspective to diabetes care, quality improvement, and digital health, helping organizations modernize chronic disease management and prepare for digital quality transformation.

Marie’s work spans clinical leadership, population‑health strategy, value‑based care performance, and digital innovation. Board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and trained as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, she integrates whole‑person care, behavioral science, and technology‑enabled practice to strengthen patient engagement and improve outcomes.

She has published and presented nationally on diabetes care (Type 1, Type 2, and diabetes in pregnancy), diabetes technology, digital quality measures, and patient engagement strategies including motivational interviewing.

Marie contributes to national initiatives through advisory and leadership roles with organizations such as the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), supporting workgroups and committees focused on diabetes care, digital quality measurement, and innovation.

Want to Learn More about this Question?

Join us live in San Diego for our

DiabetesEd Training Program

Brand new agenda for 2026!

🌟Updated Schedule: ADA Boot Camp, Tech, MNT & More

Live in Beautiful San Diego – Oct 22-23, 2026

Re-Ignite your Passion & Prepare for Diabetes Certification Exams

🎓 Earn 30+ CEs: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!

📅

2-Day Conference

Oct 22–23, 2026

⏱️

15.5 Live CEs

+ 17 bonus CEs

🏅

CDCES & BC-ADM

Exam Prep + Renewal

📍

San Diego, CA

1.7 mi from airport

Advance Your Expertise and Prepare for Your Future

The field of diabetes care is expanding and evolving rapidly. This unique training conference will keep you on the cutting edge plus prepare you for certification exams. It also fulfills the Standards of Care renewal requirement. Join us for two days of intensive education that is fun and inspiring. Add on the optional Day 3 (Engaging the Disengaged), to complete your conference exeperience.

Day 1 – ADA/AACE Standards of Care Boot Camp

Coach Beverly and Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BC-ADM, CDCES co-lead an exciting day that brings the ADA and AACE Standards to life. Gain fresh insights, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of the latest in person-centered diabetes care. After attending, you will be empowered to share the latest in diabetes care with your colleagues and the people in your care.

Day 2 – Insulin, Tech, MNT and Case Studies

Take your knowledge to the next level with this intensive deep-dive into insulin therapy, dosing and pattern management with Dr. Diana Isaacs. Next, stay for the diabetes tech show-and-tell as Diana demonstrates the specs of the latest pumps and sensors. After lunch, nutrition whiz Christine Craig, MS, RDN, CDCES expertly details the latest in MNT and provides real strategies on translating this content to your clinical practice. You will have a chance to put it all together as Coach Beverly leads you through a series of case studies that integrates content from Day 1 and Day 2.

Add-On Day 3 – Engaging the Disengaged

On Saturday, join this exceptional day-long program led by William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES & Susan Guzman, PhD (Behavioral Diabetes Institute) that reveals psychosocial forces behind diabetes self-management — tools to break through resistance and inspire change.

Read more below

🌟Registration Options at a Glance

📜 Essentials

Registration
+ Printed Syllabus

$559.00

🌟 Deluxe

Essentials
+ ADA Standards Book

$589.00

🏆 Complete – Best Value!

Deluxe
+ ADCES Review Guide e-Book

$669.00

5 Reasons to Attend

  1. Led by national experts 👩‍⚕️Dr. Diana Isaacs (Cleveland Clinic), Coach Beverly 🧢 (30+ years of experience), and Christine Craig (nutrition whiz).
  2. 🌴 Location makes for a great vacation
  3. Networking, walking paths, connection
  4. Ready yourself for the diabetes future🚀
  5. Have fun, win prizes, play DiaBingo 😄

What's Included?

  • 🍽️ Healthy breakfasts, lunch, refreshments and coffee ☕
  • 📘 100-page printed syllabus
  • 🎤 2 days of engaging, expert-led education with case studies.
  • 🎓 12 FREE online courses ($375 value)
  • Free MedPocketCard & Coach Bev’s Book 📗 Healing through Connection.

Add on a 3rd Day!
Enroll in ENGAGING THE DISENGAGED
Strategies for Promoting Behavior Change in Diabetes
October 24, 2026

Transform how you engage patients with diabetes — master behavior change, reduce distress, and overcome medication hesitancy.

Why do so many patients know what they should do — but still struggle to do it?

The answer lies in the psychology of diabetes.

In this transformative full-day course, world-renowned experts William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDCES, and Susan Guzman, PhD, from the Behavioral Diabetes Institute reveal the hidden psychosocial forces that drive — or derail — diabetes self-management.

You’ll walk away with a completely new toolkit for breaking through patient resistance, dissolving medication hesitancy, and creating clinical encounters that actually inspire change!