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Membership

To become a DES member, complete the new online membership renewal application.

  • Anyone is invited to join the DES.
  • The membership year runs from September 1st of each year and ends August 31st the following year. The renewal period begins August 1st of each year.
  • There are three levels of member: Regular, Associate and Student and two specialty levels: Honourary and Emeritus.

As a DES member you will receive:

  • Print subscriptions of the Canadian Journal of Diabetes, Diabetes Communicator and Diabetes Dialogue.
  • Members-only access to the CDA website.
  • Regular communication to keep you informed of upcoming events, news and announcements.
  • The ability to apply for awards, grants and scholarships.
  • Savings for the annual CDA/CSEM Conference.
  • Access to research and tap into various advocacy work.

As a DES member you can:

  • Make lasting connections with fellow diabetes educators by sharing and learning from others.
  • Develop your skills.
  • Participate in various Committees.
  • Volunteer at the annual CDA/CSEM Conference.
  • Earn credits towards your Canadian Diabetes Educator Certificate through the CDECB.

Membership Types:

  • Active Members - Members with a professional designation by a recognized healthcare professional body.
  • Associate Members - Members without a professional designation.
  • Student Members - Members enrolled in full-time studies working toward a career in diabetes education. This requires proof of enrollment.
  • Honourary Members - Members that have applied for and achieved honourary DES status.
  • Emeritus Members - Members over the age of 65 with 25 years or more of active DES membership. This requires proof of year of birth and confirmation of joining year.

DES Special Interest Groups:

  • Camp - For any DES member who has attended or has an interest in attending CDA's Diabetes Camps for children.
  • Pediatric - For any DES member with a special interest in the care of children and adolescents with diabetes.
  • Zoomers - For any DES member with a focus of care for those people over the age of 55 living with diabetes.
  • Long-Term & Home Care - For DES members interested in long term care, home care, or the community setting of care.
  • Pregnancy - For DES members working in the field of geriatric pregnancy and pregnant women with diabetes.

DES Publications available for purchase:

  • Building Competency in Diabetes Education: Advancing Practice—This new product is designed for the ongoing professional education of diabetes educators who have moved beyond the novice level and are seeking to increase their knowledge and skills related to diabetes self-management education.
  • Building Competency in Diabetes Education: The Essentials--First published in 2001, this manual was designed for both those new to diabetes education and more experienced educators who want to update their knowledge. This self-directed program is intended to build on the learner’s existing skills by enhancing his/her knowledge of diabetes and its management.
  • Standards for Diabetes Education in Canada -- First published in 1995, these standards were adopted for world-wide use by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). A recognition and self-assessment program based on the standards was initiated in September 1997.
  • Patient Education Resources Kit (PERK) -- A simple teaching tool with tear-off/ take home pages for your patients. Tear-off sheets are available in English and Italian.
  • Diabetes Education Standards Recognition Program: (2009) A Quality Assessment Tool for Diabetes Education Centres.
  • Research Works -- This manual has been written by experts in the field of applied research specifically for diabetes educators who want to conduct practice-based research. The manual will guide you through the research process - from choosing the research question, selecting the method, to presenting the results.

Advocacy

  • The DES National Chairperson has a designated position on CDA's National Board of Directors.
  • A member of DES is the international liason to the Diabetes Education Consultative Section of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
  • All CDA councils and most committees have a position fo a DES member.

Research and Innovation

  • The DES National Executive has representation on the CDA National Research Council.
  • Research Awards are granted to successful candidates who show innovation in diabetes research.
  • Applied research grants are granted to successful candidates in areas of practice-based research.
  • The DES Research Committee helps to establish programs and initiatives for research in the field of diabetes education.