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Demand for diabetes educators projected to increase sharply
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AADE Annual Meeting and Exhibition
LAS VEGAS — The growing diabetes epidemic is estimated to escalate the demand for diabetes educators by at least 60% by 2025, according to a study released by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. This projection may increase exponentially should more patients, such as those with prediabetes, become eligible for diabetes education.
Based on the survey results, diabetes educators can also expect an expanded job market, as positions in nontraditional settings open up. This may include industry sales; retail clinics; management consulting; medical weight management and specialty clinics; community health centers; home health and long-term care facilities; and workplace wellness programs. Moreover, health care systems such as private insurance and Medicare will be more likely to offer reimbursement as studies supporting the cost-effectiveness of diabetes education continue to emerge and providers push for greater integration of diabetes education into health care. Employers also value credentials such as the BC-ADM and CDE, researchers found.
The demand is projected to increase for diabetes educators of varying skill levels. Higher-level diabetes educators will assume roles as program managers and coordinators while also helping to train other health care professionals and design technology interfaces that will facilitate the ability to provide services to patients. Greater demand for lower-level diabetes educators, such as community health workers, is also anticipated.
“The research confirms that diabetes education is a growing and vitally important health care specialty,” Lana Vukovljak, MA, MS, AADE CEO, said in a press release. “Diabetes education, in addition to being a public health benefit, is a proven way to reduce health care costs.”
The study comprised a literature review; a systematic search of employment websites to examine job postings for diabetes educators; an analysis of Medicare claims from 2006 to 2009; and a quantitative work force model of supply and demand for diabetes educators through 2025.