The goal of diabetes management is to keep levels of blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol as close to the normal range as safely possible. Although diabetes is a chronic condition, it can usually be controlled with lifestyle changes and medication.

Your responsibility
Treatment for diabetes involves self-management. More than most illness, you will have the responsibility for managing the disease. That's because the core treatments are physical activity and following a healthy eating plan.

In the bargain, you'll reduce your risk for complications from diabetes. You'll reduce your risk for problems with your kidneys, eyes, nerves, feet and legs, and teeth and lower the risk for heart attack or stroke.

Depending on what type of diabetes you have, blood sugar monitoring, insulin and oral medications may play a role in your treatment. A pancreas transplant or bariatric surgery may be an option for select people.

We know that lifestyle changes can be hard.  That's why Riverside offers services from diabetes management classes, nutrition education, a smoking cessation program to support groups.

• Monitor your glucose levels through our Direct Access Laboratory Testing (DALT) services:  laboratory testing you can order for yourself – without a doctor’s order.
• Diabetes care: 10 ways to avoid complications
• Diabetes care: How daily activities affect blood sugar