LIVE HEALTHIER WITH DIABETES

Want to live healthier with diabetes? 

Our Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) here at Positive Patterns for Life (PPL), can help you live healthier with diabetes. People who work with our CDCES receive diabetes self-management counseling which is guided by evidence-based Diabetes Self-Management Training Curriculums. Curriculum based self-management training provides consistent, high quality health counselling for each individual.  CLICK HERE to see all of PPL Diabetes Self-Management Training Curriculums and the CDCES resume.

What is a CDCES?

A diabetes educator is usually a registered nurse, dietitian/nutritionist, or pharmacist with a special interest and training in caring for people with diabetes. They are specialists whose job it is to help you understand your diabetes better and teach you what you can do to keep it in good control. Our CDCES has degrees in nursing and nutrition. Our CDCES can work with other members of your healthcare team, if you would like this.

How can a CDCES help me?

A diabetes educator can give you the knowledge, skills, and support you need to succeed with diabetes self-management. They will address any of the concerns or questions you may have about diabetes. They will help you understand what is going in inside your body. A diabetes educator will help you learn important self-care habits which will help you keep your blood sugar in a healthy range.

What are these important self-care habits?

Important self-care habits for a person with diabetes include:

  • Healthy eating (i.e. balanced diet, healthy choices, portion control)
  • Active living (i.e. aerobic exercise, toning, stretching)
  • Taking medication (i.e. understand how medication works, when to take it)
  • Self-monitoring (i.e. blood sugar, blood pressure)
  • Easing stress (i.e. coping with diabetes, managing stress)
  • Dealing with potential problems (i.e. high and low blood sugars, sick days)
  • Reducing risk of complications from diabetes (i.e. checkups, lab tests)

Will working with a diabetes educator help me and my unborn baby stay healthier?

Research studies show that the most important thing a pregnant diabetic can to do protect her unborn baby’s health and reduce complications during pregnancy and delivery is to keep her blood sugars in a healthy range. Diabetes education has proven to reduced blood sugar, blood pressure and to significantly improve health outcomes for pregnant diabetics and their unborn babies (Statement from the American Association of Diabetes Educators, 2014).

What Diabetes Self-Management services does PPL provide?

Positive Patterns for Life provides Diabetes Self-Management programs via telehealth.  There are three different programs available: Prediabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Gestational Diabetes. Each program includes face-to-face counseling sessions, via group setting or one-on-one, plus handouts, booklets, logs, and educational bonus videos. 

There are also single topic classes available for individuals who only want to learn more about a single diabetes topic. 

One-on-one sessions are available for individuals who are enrolled in any one of the diabetes programs or classes.