Ask a CDCES: Top 5 most-asked questions from people with diabetes

Questions to ask your CDCES

Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) are experts in caring for the whole person when it comes to diabetes care. They can help with everything from stress management to medication management, and they often work side-by-side with family physicians and endocrinologists to educate patients and families about diabetes care. When meeting with your CDCES or healthcare provider there are five (5) commonly asked questions to help drives discussions surrounding your diabetes care:

1. What can I eat with diabetes?

This is usually the first question a person has when they find out about their diabetes diagnosis. A Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist who is also a Registered Dietitian is the best person to guide you in preparing foods that are both familiar and new so that your diet helps your blood sugar instead of harming it. For most people, altering their diet also means learning how to count carbohydrates. However, the number of carbohydrates that you need will vary depending on your age, gender, and activity level, and this is where expert guidance is helpful.

2. What's happening inside my body?

Your diabetes educator will help you understand which type of diabetes you have and what that means for your long-term health and treatment. If you're interested, you can even ask them to explain the differences between the most common and rare types of diabetes that are treated by the medical community.

3. What should my blood glucose level be?

The American Diabetes Association recommends that people living with diabetes keep their fasting blood sugar level between 80 and 130 milligrams per deciliter and their post-meal blood glucose level under 180 milligrams per deciliter. Sometimes, a person's recommended blood glucose levels need to be adjusted — for example, when a person is getting ready to play sports or if a person has hypoglycemia unawareness. Your diabetes educator can help you tailor your blood glucose targets to prevent highs and lows.

4. How does my diabetes medication work?

Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists keep abreast of the latest medications and insulins available for people living with diabetes. They can explain how your medications work, and they can help you make sure that you are taking your diabetes medication at the right time so that it works as prescribed.

5. What are the complications of diabetes, and how do I minimize them?

Many people living with diabetes worry about complications like loss of vision, loss of limbs or heart disease. Your diabetes educator can help you stay on track by reminding you of "extra" appointments like vaccines, foot and eye exams, as well as cholesterol and blood pressure checks.

What are the best times to see a CDCES?

If you have questions about how to manage your diabetes, any time is a good time to see a CDCES. But these times of transition may be especially beneficial:

Upon diagnosis of diabetes (type 1 or type 2). If you're newly diagnosed, you're most likely feeling a lot of different emotions: Maybe confusion, frustration, or anger. Plus, you're likely to need specific instructions about what to do to take care of your health. This is the perfect time to ask for help.

Annually. Medicare and most private insurance companies will cover at least two hours of diabetes education every year, just to check in and make sure things are going smoothly.

When something changes with your diabetes. A diabetes educator can help you stay on track. You may want to see a CDCES if:

You have an increase in your A1c.
You start a new medication or insulin regimen.
You get a new glucometer, continuous glucose monitor (CGM), or insulin pump.

When you have another change in your health status. This may include the diagnosis of another health condition or a pregnancy. Your diabetes educator can help to make sure that you are receiving the best care for both issues.