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For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on self-efficacy and DSMES. 56% 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 person with diabetes comes to your clinic and states she lost her spouse 18 months ago. She continues to have prolonged grief, shame, and guilt. She expresses how this is negatively impacting her having diabetes.
What is the best way to respond to increase her self-efficacy within DSMES?
Answer A is incorrect. 19.35% chose this answer, “Use motivation interviewing to help increase her self-management behaviors.” This answer is incorrect. Motivational interviewing is used as one component within a broader, structured psychotherapy called prolonged-grief therapy.
Answer B is incorrect. 8.06% of you chose this answer, “Help facilitate a support group to assist in problem solving.” This answer is incorrect. Individual psychotherapy has the strongest evidence verses for prolonged grief disorder.
Answer is incorrect. About 16.94% of respondents chose this: “Assist her with goal setting to address areas of her life she wants to improve.” This answer is incorrect. Goal setting alone is not the preferred treatment for someone with persistent grief 18 months after spousal loss. CBT or prolonged grief therapy 1st line of treatment.
Finally, Answer D is correct. 55.65% chose this answer, “Refer her to a counselor to help and address other areas of DSMES.” This answer is correct. The preferred first line treatment for a patient with persistent, impairing grief 18 months after spousal loss is grief-focused psychotherapy, specifically prolonged-grief therapy.
We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Question of the Week and participate in this fun learning activity!
Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) is essential for helping people with diabetes build knowledge and become empowered to manage their condition. Delivering the right content matters, and so does HOW that education is delivered. This course explores the behavioral strategies that support person-centered DSMES, helping you connect more effectively with the people you serve.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
SW is a 52-year-old living with type 2 diabetes. Over the past year, A1C increased from 7.1% to 8.2%, and blood pressure during their visit was 146/88 mmHg. They report increased fatigue, daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and waking up several times during the night. SW works rotating night shifts at a manufacturing plant.
Which of the following responses would best align with the 2026 ADA Standards of Care?
Solve common glucose mysteries and optimize time-in-range for people with type 2 diabetes.
Why are glucose levels elevated in the morning? When should insulin be started? What is the next step to get A1c to target? During this course Coach Beverly addresses each of these glucose mysteries and more, using a person-centered approach. She describes a stepwise approach to evaluate glucose patterns and correct common issues encountered by people living with type 2 diabetes.
Course Topics:
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
A person with diabetes comes to your clinic and states she lost her spouse 18 months ago. She continues to have prolonged grief, shame, and guilt. She expresses how this is negatively impacting her having diabetes.
What is the best way to respond to increase her self-efficacy within DSMES?
🌟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
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.
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.
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.
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
📜 Essentials
Registration
+ Printed Syllabus
$559.00
🌟 Deluxe
Essentials
+ ADA Standards Book
$589.00
🏆 Complete – Best Value!
Deluxe
+ ADCES Review Guide e-Book
$669.00
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!
Author: Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM
CEO & President, DiabetesEd Services
For decades, healthcare professionals have cared for individuals diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that affects approximately 1 in 8 women worldwide. Yet many clinicians, researchers, and people living with the condition have long felt that the name never fully captured the complexity of what was happening beneath the surface.
In May 2026, a landmark international consensus published in the Lancet, officially renamed PCOS to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). This change emerged from more than a decade of collaboration among global experts, patient advocates, and professional organizations seeking a name that better reflects the condition’s true nature and broad health implications.
The term “polycystic ovary syndrome” has created confusion for years. Many people diagnosed with PCOS do not actually have ovarian cysts, while others with ovarian cysts do not have the syndrome. The previous name often led healthcare providers to focus primarily on reproductive concerns while overlooking significant metabolic and endocrine dysfunction.
The new name—Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome—highlights what many clinicians have recognized for years: this is a complex, whole-body condition involving hormonal regulation, metabolism, reproductive health, cardiovascular risk, and mental well-being.
As healthcare professionals, we know that language shapes understanding. A diagnosis is often the first framework through which a person interprets their health condition.
When the name focuses narrowly on ovaries and cysts, important aspects of care can be missed. The new terminology helps communicate that PMOS is not simply a reproductive disorder—it is a lifelong endocrine and metabolic condition requiring multidisciplinary care. Experts hope the renaming will reduce stigma, improve diagnostic accuracy, and stimulate greater research investment in prevention and treatment strategies.
This shift is reminiscent of the transition from NAFLD to MASLD, where updated terminology was designed to better reflect underlying pathophysiology and reduce misunderstanding. In both cases, language serves as a tool to improve clinical care and patient outcomes.
As a healthcare professional providing care to people with diabetes, you are likely to encounter individuals with undiagnosed and undertreated PMOS. Since insulin resistance is an underlying disorder in both conditions, there is a bidirectional relationship between diabetes and PMOS.
You can be on the lookout for individuals with PMOS and advocate for diagnosis and evidence-based treatments. These individuals may be struggling to cope with the complex metabolic and social consequences associated with PMOS.
PMOS, is a complex condition that can present differently from person to person. While some individuals experience reproductive symptoms, others may first notice metabolic changes or signs of excess androgen activity.
Not everyone with PMOS has overweight or obesity. Up to 20–30% of individuals may have a normal BMI yet still experience insulin resistance, androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction, or cardiometabolic risk. This is one reason why relying solely on weight can lead to delayed diagnosis.
When working with individuals who have PMOS, consider:
Many people living with PMOS have spent years feeling dismissed or misunderstood. A whole-person approach that validates their experiences can be just as important as the pharmacologic interventions we recommend.
The central focus is on improving metabolic health, managing symptoms, and supporting individual goals such as fertility or diabetes prevention.
Lifestyle interventions – including regular physical activity, nutritious foods, adequate sleep, and stress management, remain the foundation of care.
Medications– the following medications are used to improve glucose levels, decrease insulin resistance and support a healthy weight.
Combined hormonal contraceptives can help regulate menstrual cycles and reduce symptoms of androgen excess, while spironolactone may be prescribed for acne or excess hair growth.
Assessing for Co-Conditions – Given the increased risk of prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, and mental health concerns, comprehensive screening and a person-centered, multidisciplinary approach are essential components of long-term PMOS care.
Many people with PMOS spend years seeking answers before receiving a diagnosis. Symptoms such as weight changes, irregular periods, acne, or excess hair growth can carry significant emotional burdens. Approaching these conversations with curiosity, empathy, and non-stigmatizing language can help foster trust and improve engagement in care.
PMOS is far more than a reproductive condition. It is a lifelong endocrine and metabolic disorder that may affect reproductive health, glucose metabolism, cardiovascular risk, sleep, and emotional well-being. Recognizing the early signs can lead to earlier intervention and better long-term outcomes.
The renaming to PMOS offers an opportunity for diabetes health care professionals to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and advocate for best care.
Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM
CEO & President, DiabetesEd Services
Are you a healthcare professional providing diabetes care in an under-resourced community? Are you working toward earning your certification in diabetes education (CDCES or BC-ADM?)
If yes, please consider applying for our Bridge Scholarship, which covers the registration cost for the DiabetesEd Training Conference in San Diego, Oct 22-23, 2026 (value of $559). This program will provide you with the content needed to prepare for mastery-level diabetes certification and beyond!
Recipients will be awarded the Training Conference reg fee, including the live program, printed syllabus, 30+ CE’s, plus access to the online bonus courses for one year! Applications Due on July 20th, 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
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.
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.
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.
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
📜 Essentials
Registration
+ Printed Syllabus
$559.00
🌟 Deluxe
Essentials
+ ADA Standards Book
$589.00
🏆 Complete – Best Value!
Deluxe
+ ADCES Review Guide e-Book
$669.00
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!
Celebrations are in order!
June is Pride Month – a time to honor diversity, inclusion, and the freedom to be authentically ourselves. It’s also a special month for another reason – today is my birthday! 🎂
This month, we have lots of exciting updates to share with you!
First, the term PCOS has been updated to PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome), recognizing that this common condition is far more complex than the presence of ovarian cysts. Coach Beverly explores the significance of this name change along with key risk factors and treatment considerations.
Continued below…
How many times has a worried patient asked you, “Is it okay to eat fruit?” Our nutrition expert, Christine Craig, provides a timely refresher on the glycemic impact of summer fruits and shares practical strategies for people with diabetes to enjoy them while supporting glucose management.
Did you know that the CBDCE is exploring a new certification pathway for healthcare support staff—the team members who are often the first point of contact for people seeking diabetes care? Diabetes expert Sarah Hormachea takes a closer look at this exciting development in her article, “Beyond the CDCES.”
Diabetes pharmacotherapy continues to evolve at lightning speed. Fortunately, we’re keeping track of the latest medication approvals, indication changes, and updates so you don’t have to. Be sure to check out the newest additions and revisions to our Medication PocketCards highlighted below.
Test your knowledge with our Question and Rationale of the Week too!
As I write this, I’m on a plane headed to the ADA Scientific Sessions in New Orleans. I can’t wait to learn, connect, and bring back the latest clinical pearls and practice-changing updates to share with you. If you’ll be attending, please stop and say hello—I would love to meet you!
Thank you for being part of a community that embraces compassion, curiosity, and connection.
With hearts full of gratitude,
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Ashlie, and Katarina
🌟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
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.
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.
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.
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
📜 Essentials
Registration
+ Printed Syllabus
$559.00
🌟 Deluxe
Essentials
+ ADA Standards Book
$589.00
🏆 Complete – Best Value!
Deluxe
+ ADCES Review Guide e-Book
$669.00
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!
JL has T2DM, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Is currently on Metformin 1000mg BID and empagliflozin 25mg daily. Their A1C is 8.1%.
FREE Webinar June 11, 2026
Join us on June 11, 2026, at 11:30 am PST, for the 2026 webinar update
Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM, brings extensive expertise in diabetes foot care, amputation prevention, and comprehensive health assessment.
What’s included:
Are you a healthcare professional providing diabetes care in an under-resourced community? Are you working toward earning your certification in diabetes education (CDCES or BC-ADM?)
If yes, please consider applying for our Bridge Scholarship, which covers the registration cost for the DiabetesEd Training Conference in San Diego, Oct 22-23, 2026 (value of $559). This program will provide you with the content needed to prepare for mastery-level diabetes certification and beyond!
Recipients will be awarded the Training Conference reg fee, including the live program, printed syllabus, 30+ CE’s, plus access to the online bonus courses for one year! Applications Due on July 20th, 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
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.
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.
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.
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
📜 Essentials
Registration
+ Printed Syllabus
$559.00
🌟 Deluxe
Essentials
+ ADA Standards Book
$589.00
🏆 Complete – Best Value!
Deluxe
+ ADCES Review Guide e-Book
$669.00
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!
Congratulations to August CDCES & BC-ADM Graduates!
Celebrate our August graduates and the dedication they’ve shown on their journey toward diabetes certification!
Get exam-ready with confidence.
Enroll in our FREE Certification Exam Prep Webinars for the CDCES & BC-ADM Certification Exams
Get exam-ready with confidence.
Course credits through AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, ACPE, ANCC, and CDR!
Full accreditation details are available on the registration page
Our CDCES Boot Camp Online Prep Bundle is a comprehensive, high-impact program built specifically for healthcare professionals preparing for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) exam who want to level up their clinical knowledge and skills.
This evidence-based study bundle is a comprehensive BC-ADM Boot Camp designed for advanced-level healthcare professionals preparing for the Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) exam and will also provide you with state-of-the-art information to level up your clinical practice.
We Want to Celebrate YOU!
Share your story of success with us so the entire DiabetesEd Community can celebrate!
We are proud to share that hundreds of students have successfully passed their certification exams using our courses and resources to get over the finish line!
This page is a celebration of YOUR success, recognizing the effort and sacrifices required to attain that passing score.
Congratulations to all of you! Your perseverance and commitment to providing best diabetes care shines through.
If you have passed the CDCES or BC-ADM Exam, please submit your photo and note here! By celebrating this achievement, you serve as an encouragement to others!
Thank you,
Coach Beverly and our DiabetesEd Team
Presenters at ADCES (pictured above, from left to right):
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.
www.sarahhormachea.com
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:
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.
www.sorogi.com
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.
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.
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.
www.DiabetesEd.net
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.”
🌟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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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📜 Essentials
Registration
+ Printed Syllabus
$559.00
🌟 Deluxe
Essentials
+ ADA Standards Book
$589.00
🏆 Complete – Best Value!
Deluxe
+ ADCES Review Guide e-Book
$669.00
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!
