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Updated May 26, 2015.

Chances are that if you don't have diabetes, you know someone who does. Staggering statistics indicate that nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes, making efforts to increase awareness more important than ever. The good news is that many companies are partnering up with organizations and health professionals to create diabetes awareness, enhance education and simplify life with diabetes. Luckily, we have a plethora of resources at our hands to help educate people and loved ones of people with diabetes or those at risk for diabetes.

One of the best resources available are the experts - Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE's). Certified Diabetes Educators are health professionals who specialize in the management and treatment of diabetes. They contain a wealth of knowledge across all diabetes topics, ranging from diet to gadgets, exercise, diabetes resources, medications, etc. 

Certified Diabetes Educators can have an instrumental role in providing individualized care for persons with diabetes and can also help those with prediabetes develop strategies to prevent diabetes. It is not surprising that companies like BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) are advocating for patients to partner up with CDE's. In April, BD launched its 'Dynamic Duos' campaign and is partnering withTami Ross, RD, LD, CDE, MLDE, a nationally renowned diabetes educator, author and past president of the American Association of Diabetes Educators. I asked Tami what the campaign was all about and here is what she had to say: 

Q: What Exactly is the Dynamic Duos Campaign? 

A: I’m working with BD on the “Dynamic Duos” education campaign to champion the role of diabetes educators in empowering patients with tips and resources to help them simplify life with diabetes. I’ve been a diabetes educator for over 20 years and have had three people in my family touched by diabetes. Without a doubt, diabetes is a complicated and often overwhelming disease. Through this campaign, we are encouraging people with diabetes to team up with a diabetes educator who can apply their knowledge, skills, counseling and education to develop an individualized plan to help patients meet treatment goals. 

Diabetes educators can provide guidance on healthy eating, getting regular physical activity, taking any needed diabetes medications appropriately along with integrating innovative technologies to manage diabetes, such as those that have safety features that make injections easier.  People can join the Dynamic Duos conversation on Facebook at Diabetes Innovations US: www.facebook.com/diabetesinnovationus.

This campaign coincides with one of BD's products, BD AutoShield Duo™ pen needle (one of the many products on the market that help to make diabetes easier). For more information about the device go to: www.bd.com/autoshieldduo.

Already Have a CDE? 

If you already working with a diabetes educator, hopefully you have experienced positive results. And if you haven't, don't be discouraged, it takes time to make changes. Make sure that your educator listens actively and helps you create a plan that sets you up to be successful in achieving your personal goals. Tips should be realistic, simple, safe and effective. The more realistic the plan is, the easier it will be to continue it.  

Not Interested in One-on-One Sessions? 

If you are not interested in meeting with a CDE on a one-on-one basis, look into attending diabetes self management group classes. Group classes are a great way to meet with other people dealing with the same obstacles that you are dealing with on a daily basis. They can be motivating, conversation provoking and self rewarding . One of my favorite method is called the Diabetes Conversation Map Class. Read about it here: An Interactive Way to Learn About Diabetes 

Resources: 

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 29 million Americans have diabetes; 1 in 4 doesn’t know. Accessed on-line. May 7, 2015: http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0610-diabetes-report.html