The future of diabetes education: expanded opportunities and roles for diabetes educators

The purpose of the article is to explore challenges and opportunities associated with the state of practice for diabetes education and diabetes educators.

Observations, assumptions, predictions, and recommendations based on a literature review and the 2011 workforce study and workforce summit held by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) are presented.

Demand for diabetes educators is projected to increase. The employer base will broaden beyond traditional outpatient venues and extend into industry, retail pharmacy clinics, and community-based organizations. Increasing roles in management, quality assurance, and technology interface design are possible for diabetes educators. Challenges limiting diabetes education such as poor understanding of what diabetes educators do and underutilization of diabetes education continue to need redress.

Increasing utilization of diabetes education and insight about health care trends can allow diabetes educators to thrive in the workplace of the future. Diabetes educators are urged to promote the evidence concerning the benefits of diabetes education, to work to increase physician referrals, and to acquire needed competencies for the workplace of the future.