The role of the certified diabetes educator in telephone counseling

PURPOSE This paper describes a telephone-based, outcomes focused approach to diabet es education provided by certified diabetes educators (CDEs). METHODS Random chart audits were conducted to evaluate the scope of practice and ef fectiveness of telephone-based interventions provided by CDEs to people wit h diabetes. Four case studies and a sample prevention case are used to illu strate the role of telephone-based CDEs in providing diabetes education. RESULTS Counseling provided by CDEs helped to identify potential barriers and strat egies for making lifestyle behavioral changes. CONCLUSIONS Telephone-based counseling is a brief, effective, ongoing intervention that gives patients with diabetes immediate access to CDEs who provide educatio n to support lifestyle behavioral changes.