Meet a diabetes educator – Donna Rice, MBA, BSN, RN, CDE

Donna Rice is a certified diabetes educator. A nurse by training, she manages a diabetes education and wellness program at Botsford Hospital, near Detroit. She also recently served as president of the American Asso¬ciation of Diabetes Educators.

Rice decided to become a diabetes educator after working as an emergency room nurse. In that role, she realized that patients with diabetes came to the ER with low blood sugar or other symptoms that could be prevented. She helped put together an education program and has been working with people with diabetes ever since.

Rice sees patients in the mornings for one-to-one assessments and meetings that last 30 to 90 minutes. She might help people learn how to wear and work an insulin pump, order proper foods from a restaurant menu, or adjust the timing of medicines so blood sugar doesn’t get too low after physical activity. She has helped patients make small but important changes in their diets, such as switching from 2% to 1% milk or from two pieces of toast for breakfast to one. “We don’t just give people a meal plan to follow,” she says, “It’s about problem-solving.”

In the afternoons, Rice may teach a nutrition class about carbohydrates or portion sizes, for instance, and in the evenings run a support group or speak about diabetes at a community event.

Directory of diabetes educators
Ask your doctor for a referral to a diabetes educator and check with your insurance company to find out if your plan covers diabetes education. The American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) offers an online directory at: https://www.diabeteseducator.org/DiabetesEducation/Find.html.