Perspectives on Diabetes Care

From a very young age, I knew I wanted to help children living with diabetes. After being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just two years old, diabetes became a significant part of my life. Throughout my childhood, I was fortunate to work with incredible diabetes care and education specialist who taught me not only how to manage my condition, but also how to live confidently and independently. I admired them greatly and often imagined myself one day helping other children and families the way they had helped me.

After graduating from high school, I enrolled in a four-year nursing program because it felt like the right path toward achieving my goal of becoming a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). Nursing provided the clinical foundation I needed while allowing me to pursue my passion for working with children.

Upon completing nursing school, I focused my job search on pediatric nursing positions. In addition to my interest in diabetes care, I had always loved working with children. I accepted a position as a registered nurse in a long-term care facility that served children with medically complex conditions and special needs. The experience was incredibly rewarding and helped me grow both professionally and personally. However, there were limited opportunities to gain diabetes-specific experience in this setting.

As I learned more about the requirements for becoming a CDCES, I realized that obtaining the necessary experience hours would be one of the biggest challenges in my journey. To sit for the certification exam, candidates must accumulate significant experience providing diabetes education and support. Because diabetes was not a primary focus of my nursing role, it was difficult to gain those hours through my full-time position alone.

Determined to stay connected to the diabetes community, I sought opportunities outside of work. During the summers, I worked one day per week as a camp nurse, where I cared for children living with Type 1 diabetes. While this provided valuable experience, it was still not enough to meet the certification requirements on its own.

Throughout my life, I have made it a priority to remain actively involved in the diabetes community. I volunteer at diabetes walks and fundraising events, attend local meetups, and stay engaged with the online diabetes community. These experiences have allowed me to connect with others living with diabetes while also building relationships with healthcare professionals, advocates, and industry leaders. Through these connections, I learned the importance of networking and the impact it can have on career opportunities.

In addition to my nursing experience, I earned a master’s degree in Diabetes Education and Management from Columbia University. Although this program is no longer offered, it provided me with specialized knowledge and strengthened my commitment to a career in diabetes education.

One of the most important moments in my professional journey happened at a Breakthrough T1D Type 1 Summit. While attending the event, I unexpectedly reconnected with one of the diabetes educators who had cared for me when I was a child. She was still working within the same healthcare system where I had been diagnosed years earlier. During our conversation, I shared my goal of becoming a CDCES and my desire to gain more diabetes-focused experience. She encouraged me to send her my résumé and took my contact information.

Shortly afterward, I was hired as a nurse within a large pediatric diabetes program. This opportunity allowed me to work directly with individuals and families affected by diabetes, learn from experienced educators, and begin accumulating the hours needed for certification. It was a pivotal step toward achieving a goal I had been working toward for many years.

My advice to anyone pursuing CDCES certification and struggling to obtain the required experience is simple: get involved and put yourself out there. Volunteer at local diabetes events, attend conferences and community programs, connect with endocrinologists and diabetes educators, and seek opportunities to shadow or volunteer whenever possible. Networking and community involvement can open doors that you may never expect. It is also worth remembering that some organizations hire individuals into diabetes education roles before they become certified, allowing them to gain experience while working toward their credential.