Northern Montana Hospital Registered Dietitian Lisa Ranes received word last week that she has achieved Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) status.

Candidates must meet rigorous credential and professional practice experience requirements to be eligible to take the certification examination, administered by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE).  Achieving the CDE credential demonstrates to patients that Ranes possesses distinct and specialized knowledge, thereby promoting quality of care for patients with diabetes.  There are currently more than 14,000 diabetes educators who hold the CDE credential.

Ranes has been working as the Diabetic Care Coordinator at Northern Montana Hospital since July of 2004.  Since that time, she has established two support groups that meet monthly to address the needs of this area’s diabetics; conducted a diabetic health fair; presented community education workshops and written several newspaper articles on the challenges of being and caring for a diabetic; and hosted seminars by other diabetes educators.

Ranes recently hired a registered nurse to assist her in the Hospital Diabetes Care Program; and the two will start “Take Control! with Diabetes Education for Life” group classes beginning August 23.  Ranes also is hard at work to help the Hospital attain American Diabetes Association (ADA) recognition status, which will allow diabetics, caregivers and healthcare providers in Hill, Liberty and Blaine counties to obtain more comprehensive diabetes self-management education at the Havre hospital.

The National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE) was established in 1986 to develop and administer a certification program for healthcare professionals who teach individuals with diabetes how to manage their disease.  NCBDE is dedicated to promoting excellence in the field of diabetes education through the development, maintenance and protection of the CDE credential and the certification process.  NCBDE supports the concept of voluntary, periodic certification for all diabetes educators who meet credential and experience eligibility requirements.