The increasing number of people diagnosed with diabetes has created a need for more diabetes educators, with a range of specialties available. The work of diabetes educators is constantly evolving, with changing responsibilities and a need for more educators. Certified diabetes educators can work in health clinics, medical centers, and companies. Many places use a team approach to helping diabetics, and diabetes educators often play a significant role in policy development. Diabetes educators may have a dual degree in nursing, pharmaceuticals, or podiatry. Specialty diabetes educator jobs include working with children or in bilingual settings.
One of the global health trends is the increasing number of people diagnosed with diabetes. Internationally, this trend has not only increased the need for diabetes educators, but has created an increase in the diversity of diabetes educator jobs. Certified diabetes educators specialize in educating people with diabetes on how to manage their disorder. Within this medical field, there are a myriad of specialties that give the diabetes educator a chance to practice in a desired field. A diabetes educator job can range from a certified diabetes educator trainer to a diabetes educator who is also a registered dietitian.
The work of diabetes educators is constantly evolving. As researchers and companies develop diagnostics, treatments and technologies, this changes the range of responsibilities of certified diabetes educators. Not only is the scope of work changing, but the world is in need of more educators. In the U.S. alone, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2010 program has a goal that at least 60% of diabetics receive formal diabetes education.
Typically, diabetes educators teach diabetes self-management skills. Certified diabetes educators may also be registered dietitians, nurses, or other qualified professionals because the criteria for certification require that the candidate be a health professional, nutritionist, or social worker. The National Board of Certification for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) sets the standards and administers the test. State regulations and employing agencies determine diabetes educator job descriptions and duties. Certified diabetes educators can work in health clinics, medical centers and companies that provide their clients with diabetes education.
Generally, many organizations use a team approach to helping diabetics; therefore, many types of diabetes educator jobs require the educator to serve as a team leader and educator. As such, the certified diabetes educator often plays a significant role in the development of policies to facilitate the administration of these tasks.
Diabetes educators in large organizations often have a professional support team to support them. Typically, this applies to those employed by large medical companies such as multi-facility medical centers or hospitals. At the other end of the spectrum, many certified diabetes educators don’t have additional staff to help them because the employer isn’t big enough. Often, the people who hold these positions have duplicate degrees and do multiple jobs. Educators sometimes have the title diabetes clinical educators or diabetes nurse educators.
Many diabetes educators are nutritionists, and the diabetes education portion is a small percentage of their work. However, others may spend most of their jobs as educators, such as diabetes educators at large companies that have full-time nutritionists. In other cases, educators may have a dual degree in nursing, pharmaceuticals, or podiatry, and diabetes education is a small part of their profession.
Many places hire a diabetes program coordinator to teach diabetes self-management and implement a training program for other employees. People in these jobs often need to travel to perform their duties. Field diabetes educator jobs generally exist to educate primary care providers, specialists, and other medical staff on how to better manage people with diabetes. Some of these educators work for large pharmaceutical companies to promote the company’s products, and within the company they work with the company’s sales department, marketing department, and legal personnel.
Pediatric diabetes educators work both in the outpatient setting and with hospitalized pediatric patients. Children respond well to lively educators who have a talent for making information relevant to their young lives. Many pediatric diabetes educators find working with children in an overnight or residential camp rewarding. One of a diabetes educator’s jobs may be to establish the camp program as well as counsel the youth and camp staff.
For those who like variety, some of the most interesting diabetes educator jobs are specialty jobs. Many places try to hire bilingual educators so that they can effectively communicate with their patients. At other times, certified diabetes educators may work on cruise ships, exotic islands, or other places where tourists may need support in managing their condition. Some educators feel passionate enough about the jobs of diabetes educators to earn their teaching degree and become certified diabetes educator instructors.
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