Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists
A multidisciplinary professional membership organization supporting specialists who provide diabetes care, education, and self-management training.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, commonly known as ADCES, is a United States-based multidisciplinary professional membership organization serving healthcare professionals involved in diabetes care and education. It was established in 1973 under the name American Association of Diabetes Educators, or AADE, at a time when structured education for people with diabetes was becoming an increasingly important part of clinical practice. The organization was created to support professionals who help patients understand diabetes, adopt self-management behaviors, use monitoring and treatment technologies, and work with clinical teams to improve health outcomes. ADCES represents a broad professional community rather than a consumer diabetes-treatment brand. Its constituency includes diabetes educators and other healthcare professionals working in areas such as nursing, dietetics, pharmacy, medicine, behavioral health, and allied health. The organization provides professional resources intended to help members follow developments in diabetes research, education methods, technology, and care delivery. It also offers opportunities for networking, collaboration, continuing professional development, and the exchange of practical experience among specialists. A central theme of the organization’s work is diabetes self-management education and support. This field focuses on helping people with diabetes acquire the knowledge and skills needed to manage their condition in everyday life. Topics can include nutrition, physical activity, medication use, glucose monitoring, problem-solving, risk reduction, coping, and the use of digital or connected diabetes technologies. By supporting the professionals who deliver this education, ADCES contributes to a care model in which education and behavioral support complement medical treatment. The organization operated for most of its history under the AADE name. In January 2020, it adopted the name Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. The change reflected a broader understanding of the organization’s membership and the work performed by its professionals. The newer name places equal emphasis on care and education and avoids defining the field solely through the former job title of diabetes educator. The rebrand also signaled the organization’s intention to represent a wider, multidisciplinary diabetes-care workforce. ADCES maintains professional publications as part of its knowledge-sharing role. Its journal The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care was formerly published as The Diabetes Educator, while ADCES in Practice was formerly known as AADE in Practice. These publications address research, clinical practice, education, implementation, and developments relevant to diabetes self-management and professional care delivery. The organization is not publicly listed and is not identified in the available reference material as a subsidiary of a larger corporate group. Its current identity is ADCES, although the former AADE name remains important for historical references, archival publications, and recognition among healthcare professionals. The available reference material does not specify a headquarters address, individual founder, current executives, membership size, revenue, or geographic operations beyond its United States base.
History
The organization now known as the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists was founded in 1973 as the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Its creation reflected the emergence of diabetes education as a distinct and increasingly organized area of healthcare practice. Rather than focusing on the manufacture or sale of diabetes products, the association was built to serve healthcare professionals who teach people with diabetes how to manage the condition and incorporate treatment into everyday life. From its beginning, the association’s role was multidisciplinary. Diabetes education frequently requires coordination among nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, physicians, behavioral-health professionals, and other specialists. The organization therefore developed as a professional community for people whose work combines clinical knowledge with patient instruction, counseling, behavior change, and ongoing support. Its activities have included sharing professional resources, disseminating information about research and care methods, and creating opportunities for members to collaborate and remain current with developments in diabetes management. The association’s work is closely connected to diabetes self-management education and support. This discipline helps people with diabetes understand their condition and participate actively in treatment decisions and daily care. Education may address food choices, physical activity, medication administration, glucose monitoring, prevention of complications, coping, problem-solving, and the use of medical or digital technologies. The association supports the professionals who provide this education rather than acting as a direct provider of individualized treatment to the general public. During its years as AADE, the organization built a publishing and professional-information program. The journal The Diabetes Educator served as a publication associated with diabetes education and professional practice. It was later identified as The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care, a title that more explicitly encompasses the research and practice dimensions of the field. The practice publication AADE in Practice was likewise renamed ADCES in Practice after the organization changed its primary identity. In January 2020, the organization rebranded as the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. The new name marked an important change in how the association described its constituency and mission. The former title centered on the term diabetes educator, while the new title emphasized both care and education and recognized the participation of multiple professional disciplines. The ADCES abbreviation became the organization’s current short name, while American Association of Diabetes Educators and AADE remain historical aliases. The rebrand did not represent the creation of an unrelated organization; it was a continuation of the association established in 1973. ADCES continues to function as a professional membership organization supporting specialists through educational resources, research and practice information, networking, and collaboration. The available reference material does not provide verified details about its headquarters, founder, executive leadership, membership totals, finances, or specific programs beyond its general professional-support and publication activities. It is described as an active organization operating in the United States.
- 2020
Organization adopts the ADCES name
[1]In January 2020, the American Association of Diabetes Educators became the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, reflecting a broader multidisciplinary view of diabetes care and education.
- 1973
Organization founded as the American Association of Diabetes Educators
[1]The professional association was established to represent and support healthcare professionals specializing in diabetes education.
Products and positioning
A multidisciplinary professional association focused on advancing diabetes care and education, supporting the healthcare professionals who help people manage diabetes in daily life.
Professional journal
The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care
A professional publication associated with diabetes self-management and care. It covers knowledge relevant to the science, delivery, and practice of diabetes education and support. The journal was formerly titled The Diabetes Educator, linking its current identity to the association’s earlier AADE-era publishing program.
Practice publication
ADCES in Practice
A practice-oriented publication for professionals involved in diabetes care and education. It was formerly known as AADE in Practice and adopted the ADCES naming following the organization’s 2020 rebrand. Its role is to support the application of diabetes-care and self-management principles in professional settings.
Professional services and education
Professional diabetes care and education resources
ADCES provides members with resources intended to keep them informed about diabetes research, education methods, clinical practice, technology, and trends in care delivery. The organization also supports networking and collaboration among professionals working with people who have diabetes.
Brand decisions
2020
Rebranding from AADE to ADCESStrategyBackground
The former American Association of Diabetes Educators name emphasized a particular professional role, while diabetes care and education increasingly involved multiple disciplines and a broader range of services.
Action taken
In January 2020, the organization changed its name to the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists and adopted ADCES as its short form.
Aftermath
The organization continued its membership, professional-support, and publishing activities under the ADCES identity. Its former AADE name remains a historical alias, and related publications were renamed to match the new brand.
Recent events
- 2020
American Association of Diabetes Educators rebrands as Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists[1]
Other · Leadership change
The organization adopted the ADCES name in January 2020, replacing its long-standing AADE identity. The change was intended to reflect the multidisciplinary nature of diabetes care and education and the broader range of professionals represented by the association.
The Diabetes Educator becomes The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care[1]
Other
The organization’s professional journal, formerly titled The Diabetes Educator, is identified under the newer title The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care.
AADE in Practice becomes ADCES in Practice[1]
Other
The organization’s practice-oriented publication was renamed ADCES in Practice following the transition from the AADE identity to ADCES.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/american-association-of-diabetes-educators · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled