I have some bittersweet news to share with you: today is my last day as Assistant Editor at DiabetesMine.
What could possess me to leave such a great position at an amazing diabetes blog? Well, I’m heading back to school to become a Certified Diabetes Educator!
(((YAY!!!!!)))
This has actually been something that’s been brewing inside me since I was in high school. I remember first mentioning the idea of being a diabetes educator to my parents when I was about 13 years old. But my parents weren’t convinced that I would enjoy living with diabetes AND working in diabetes… Well, we all know how that turned out!
They thought I might get tired of taking care of my own diabetes, and the diabetes of other people. They also weren’t convinced I liked math and science enough to beat the path to a medical career. So I shelved that idea, and pursued my other passion: writing.
In college, I studied public relations, mostly because newspapers and magazines are a dying breed and I was convinced I could only get paid to write if I worked in PR. That lasted three years. When I was unceremoniously let go from my previous job, my husband (fiance at the time) and I considered the idea of my going back to school so that I could pursue a career as a diabetes educator. But it was a scary proposition. It would involve more school. More money. More time. And was I really sure that’s what I wanted to do? Then I received an offer to join the ‘Mine and the idea of being a diabetes educator was once again put on the back burner.
Writing plus diabetes sounded like the perfect match. But there was that nagging thought in the back of my mind: should I become a diabetes educator?
One of the amazing opportunities I’ve had through DiabetesMine (and our awesome parent company, Alliance Health Networks) is that we attend many of the leading industry events, like the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions and the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators. At these events, I’ve been exposed to the professional healthcare side of diabetes. While I met some amazing endocrinologists and diabetes educators, I also learned some staggeringly unsettling information.
First, there are simply not enough people to take care of all all the PWDs in this country. There aren’t enough CDEs and there aren’t enough endos. Second, there are simply not enough good CDEs and endos!
A description for one of the sessions at this year’s AADE conference highlighted the need for more diabetes educators in my own backyard: “In New York State, there are 4.3 million people with diabetes/pre-diabetes, and only 600 CDEs whose average age is 54, 68% of whom work less than 25 hours/week.”
Yikes!
Obviously, there’s a need. And I’m thrilled to be pursuing this dream!
Now, you’re probably wondering how all of this is going to happen. How does someone with a BA in public relations switch over to a career in diabetes education? I’ll be honest: it won’t be easy. My experience as a PWD counts for nothing, but honestly, I believe that’s how it should be. To really teach someone how to manage their diabetes, you have to understand the Why and the How of the body and nutrition, not just how something plays out for you personally. However, as noted in my recent coaching post, there is unique benefit to having someone on your healthcare team who not only understands the disease, but also intimately understands what you’re going through.
There are several different paths to becoming a CDE, and my game plan is to become a Registered Nurse, then transition to diabetes education. Starting in September, I’ll work on some science and math prerequisites for nursing school for a year, then enroll in a local nursing school. Once I’m done with that, I have to work as a general nurse for two years. It’s not my dream job, but I know the experience with patients and physicians will benefit me as an educator in the long run. After that, I can start looking for jobs in diabetes education, and take the exam to become a Certified Diabetes Educator after I’ve completed 1,000 hours. It sounds a little backwards to take the exam after working as a CDE, but I don’t make up the rules.
Although I’ll be in school full time, I’ll still be popping up at the ‘Mine periodically as a contributing writer. You’ll hear from me on my usual topics of diabetes research, book reviews, and interviews, but you’ll also hear about the continuing adventures of a wannabe CDE.
But there is something that will be a bit different in my future posts — I’m changing my name! Technically, I already changed my name when I got married last summer, but I chose to keep my maiden name as my professional published name. However, since I will eventually become a licensed medical professional, my license has to be the same as my legal name. And if I want to be published, it will also have to match the name on my license. So henceforth you shall see me around the Diabetes Online Community as Allison Nimlos (or AllisonN here at the ‘Mine).
I’m very excited to embark on this new adventure. And who knows, maybe someday YOU might be one of my patients!
Woooo congrats. I think you have a great point that we really need to be educated about diabetes in order to teach others as a medical professional – not just live through our experience. However, I have a CDE for the first time in YEARS and love the fact that she’s type 1 because she gets things better than my endo does (or any endo ever has) – she knows it’s way more complicated than just the numbers on the screen, for which I am grateful
Congrats on the big decision, Allison! Your future patients are gonna be lucky, lucky, lucky to have you on their team.
Follow your dream! It will be a hard path to get there, but well worth the cost (not only in $$, but in learning and giving yourself to people).
Good Luck Allison on your new journey!
Way to go, Allison! I think you’ll make a great CDE!
Good luck Allison! It’s really an inspiration knowing that even though I already have a Bachelor’s degree and a “real” job, I could still pursue more of my dreams later down the road. Looking forward to your updates on the journey!
Wow, Allison, Congratulations! It’s phenomenal to have one of our own joining the ranks of CDEs! Best of luck and I hope you’ll keep us posted on your progress via your personal blog!
Wow, congrats on pursuing the new career. Best of luck to you.
I have a feeling someday you will combine your passions and write the next great book about managing D! Very best of luck.
Allison – Congrats & good for you!!! The world needs more CDEs and I know you will do well!
Fantastic news for all your future patients, kudos. It’s a sweet thing (pun intended
] to go after your dream. You will be an amazing resource!
Congrats on the decision Allison! Oddly enough, I have some journalist friends who went back to school for nursing. The two years were tough for them, but they all said it was worth it! Good for you, following your dream! Proud of you!
Congratulations, Allison. I’m sure it was a hard decision to make but one that will be rewarding in the end! I hope that when you come back here to write, you talk about how your road to a CDE is going. I have considered it too, and would love to know how it is from personal experience. Maybe you will motivate me to do it!!! Best of luck
Good luck, Allison!
Your personal experience with diabetes and your fantastic ability to communicate will make you a terrific CDE.
I’ll be cheering you on during this journey!
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Congrats! We need more CDEWD’s (CDE With Diabetes). You will be awesome at it!
I love that acronym! It’s totally going on my first biz card!
Congrats and good luck!
Wow Allison, that’s a huge step. But your passion for diabetes and helping folks means you’ll be an EXCELLENT CDE. I wish you smooth sailing on this new course.
Way to go Allison! I am always so inspired by people who follow their big dreams and goals. I know you’ll be great!
Allison – Congratulations on starting on a bold and exciting career path!
While your personal experience with diabetes will not count toward earning your new credentials, it will bring immeasurable meaning and context to your studies. It gives you incredible insight and a huge dose of empathy, something unavailable to your fellow students. This looks like a great plan. Good luck!
There is a huge need, and you will be a great one, with your personal and professional experiences! Great!
Allison, You are a true inspiration to so many PWD. Congratulations and continued success! Your going to be an awesome CDE!
Excellent decision from what I can tell! My wife Joan has had T1 since age 13, now for 51 years, so she has seen many changes in diabetes care. We’ve been married 43 years so I’ve had a front row seat. Having a CDE who also has T1 is major asset. There is credibility and perspective. They are less judgmental knowing, really knowing, how complicated it all is. Also, the insights that come from personal experience with T1, especially over the long haul which is quite different than the initial phase, are invaluable. Finally, Joan finds it rewarding to help others who come to her when they first get T1. In some small way it feels like there is some redeeming value in enduring the disease because she can help others get through it. They are very grateful and occasionally become good friends as well. God bless.
Congratulations. The best CDE I have had so far is type 1. Having a “shared life experience” (per my perspective) is equally if not more valuable than “shared information.” You go girl!! And – you will be miseed.
I think it’s an awesome idea! who better knows about Diabetes then someone who lives with it, that’s why I stick with Gary. I wish you the best and I know you will be the best
.
Excellent! It’s clear you know it’s the right decision, which means that it is! Best of luck, and definitely keep us posted.
Let me add my congratulations! You will be missed here…we will look forward to seeing your guest posts. It will be interesting to see your perspective on the CDE curriculum and ways we could bring more CDEs on board sooner!
For example, it might be nice to have a way for PWDs to slide into a CDE-like role. I am thinking of a formula like:
PWD experience + appropriate training = CDE “assistant/practitioner”
The AADE does have a couple of certificate programs for folks in the health care industry. It’s something they are working on!
You’ll be wonderful, and we will miss reading your postings here on diabetesmine! BTW, about 20 years ago I had the same aspiration (and every time I see my endo, she says “You would make a great CDE.”) In my case, I had hoped to get my Masters’ degree in Social Work, and then become a CDE. I discovered there was a “Catch 22.” Since, unlike you, I was single, and got my health insurance through my job, I would have lost that health insurance while I did my field work. I had taken one course at Fordham University’s School of Social Work in NYC, and after speaking with an advisor there about field work, I realized I could not safely become a CDE since I needed health insurance and had no other way of obtaining it (I was in my 30′s then.) I then tried the R.N. route, but I had never taken Chemistry in high school, and Math was my worst subject! So -it wasn’t a possibility for me to become a CDE, but it is going to happen for you, and I wish you all the best. You’ll be fantastic as a CDE!
I graduated from nursing school in 1995! Choosing a career in nursing has been of great reward personally, and of great benefit as I quickly learned when I needed some creative flexibility to continue working to provide health insurance for my family without putting my newly dx toddler into a childcare situation that wasn’t equipped to manage her. It meant many, many, MANY (!!!) overnight/weekend/and holiday shifts, but somehow we managed to make it work!
That being said, I will ALWAYS stand by my position that nursing school did NOT prepare me for the experience of raising a CWD. AT ALL!!!!!
(Hey, but if anything…those long overnight shifts helped prep me for the countless overnight blood sugar checks I never thought I’d be doing in my own home!!!)
I’ve often considered pursuing a CDE, but the timing never seemed right with a house full of babies. Now that all three little are in school…..who knows! A new journey unfolds
Congrats!
Nursing school is definitely far too broad to prepare someone for diabetes! I suppose that is why the 1,000 hours of diabetes education prior to the exam is important. It’s kind of like residency for doctors. Medical school is necessary, but too broad for those who go into a specialty.
Good luck and go get em !!
Allison – congrats! I belong to a philanthropic educational organization (P.E.O.) dedicated to helping women pursuing higher education. You might be a perfect candidate! Let me know if you might be interested – perhaps we can help you! Sara
So happy for you! Follow you bliss. Thank you for all of your posts. I trust we will hear from you again.
hi Allison – first – great to hear you’re taking on a new challenge in your carreer! Second – a few suggestions / comments. I don’t know how your nursing schools are set up i the States – but may I suggest you insist on one attached to a University teaching hospital – from my own past experience that was where I learned the most – both professionally and personnally – just plain old life experience! another commet – never consider what you’re doing now not to be an asset. My very first job after graduating [1973] was at a summer camp for – you guessed it – diabetic kids. The camp nurse in charge, was there to learn about diabetes – an interesting combo – I knew next to othing about nursing / she said she knew very little about paediatric diabetes. She became one of the early CDE’s setting up the CDE program at the Hospital for Sick Children [Sick Kids] in Toronto. She became well known in the field for years – for the steps she made to keep one step ahead. Anyone with problems in their CDE role could always fnid support from Marcia Frank…….& to think I was there at the start!
So congrats and embrace this new challenge as you’ve always done!
Sue Whittier
retired RN / BScN/BEd.
lifelong type1 diabetes survivor!
[...] an aspiring Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), Allison says she’d already started thinking about different ways she could support her patients [...]