AADE Rebrands, Changes Name to ADCES


 2020-01-22

This content was created as part of a partnership between Beyond Type 1 and ADCES (formerly AADE), a Founding Partner of Beyond Type 2.


 

On January 22, 2020, the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) announced a change to the organization’s name to the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) as part of a large rebrand. The change represents a shift in the organization from the specialty “diabetes educator” to a comprehensive “diabetes care and education specialist” to encompass the range of expertise among specialists who work with people with diabetes, prediabetes, cardiometabolic conditions, the health care system, payers and providers. This change has been in the works for a while. It’s the end result of a multi-year, multi-stakeholder vision for the specialty initiative. It also follows an announcement made last summer at the AADE annual conference in Houston.

In a statement, 2020 ADCES President, Kellie Antinori-Lent, MSN, RN, ACSN-BC, BC-ADM, CDCES, FAADE, said the following: “The ADCES name and specialty title integrate clinical management and expertise, which are very important aspects of our work that weren’t reflected in the title diabetes educator. Our new name will help raise awareness among those who benefit from our services as well as those who are in a position to increase the utilization of diabetes education, so we can build a landscape that helps individuals achieve optimal clinical and quality of life outcomes.”

This isn’t the only change happening for diabetes educators.  As a result of the rebrand, the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators is also changing the credentials required to work with people with diabetes throughout the year. The credentials will change from certified diabetes educator (CDE) to certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES). Current holders of the previous CDE credential will not have to retake the exam.

The rebranding process is evidence-based, using extensive qualitative and quantitative research, including conducting over 2,200 interviews with diabetes care and education specialists, people with diabetes, payers, providers and other stakeholders. Diabetes education is covered by Medicare and most health care plans, but despite its value and coverage, it is underutilized.

By redefining its diabetes education brand, ADCES hopes to better communicate diabetes care and education specialists’ value in improving diabetes outcomes through the integration of clinical management, education, prevention and support. People with diabetes who consult with a CDCES have a lower risk of experiencing complications and increases the economic benefits of living with diabetes by lowering or eliminating the need for medications and emergency room visits.

According to the CDC, less than 7 percent of people with diabetes with private insurance and 5 percent of Medicare patients with diabetes participate in diabetes education in the first year of diagnosis.

“Our goal is to connect more people with diabetes to diabetes care and education specialists,” said 2019 AADE President, Karen Kemmis, PT, RN, DPT, MS, CDCES, FAADE. “The name change is a necessary step as we look to move the trajectory of the specialty into the future. The long-term solution to increased utilization will require continued input from legislative, association and advocacy partners.”

 


Learn more about ADCES here.

For more on the name change from CDE to DCES and the future of the organization, read an interview with 2019 AADE President Karen Kemmis here.

WRITTEN BY Beyond Type 2 Editorial Team , POSTED 01/22/20, UPDATED 10/04/22

This piece was authored collaboratively by the Beyond Type 2 Editorial Team. Members of that team include Project Manager T'ara Smith, Editorial Manager Todd Boudreaux, Program Manager Mariana Gómez, Director of Brand Communications Dana Howe and Editorial Associate Jordan Dakin.