Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs) Certified diabetes educators are health care professionals who specialize in treating people with diabetes. They can be nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, doctors, social workers, or other professionals. People who have the initials CDE after their names have passed a national exam that allows them to teach people who have diabetes how to manage their condition. Back to Articles Related Articles Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.