Diabetes Teaching Center
The UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center instructs and informs people about managing diabetes. The center’s approach emphasizes the importance of individualized care and empowering patients by teaching them how to best manage their condition. Our programs focus on helping patients make more consistent and appropriate therapy and lifestyle adjustments.
As part of a major academic medical center, the Diabetes Teaching Center has access to the latest scientific research and treatment options for diabetes. Drawing on UCSF's years of experience with patient care, we offer treatment plans to optimize your ability to control your condition.
The teaching center’s objectives are to help people with diabetes learn to:
- Manage diabetes on a day-to-day basis with confidence
- Prevent complications
- Help their primary care doctors determine how to best control their condition
Diabetes Classes and Workshops
Classes and workshops are designed to help people with diabetes be more proactive in controlling their condition. Topics covered include:
- Types, causes and effects of diabetes mellitus, as well as treatment goals
- The importance of fitting exercise, diet, meal planning, weight management and prevention of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) into daily routines
- Managing insulin or oral diabetes therapy
- Testing blood glucose and urine ketone levels, and adjusting therapy based on test results
- Preventing and managing potential complications
- Adjusting emotionally to living with diabetes
In-depth workshops are offered for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Groups are organized by type of diabetes and insulin use. The insulin therapy workshop is three and a half days; the oral diabetes medication course is two days. The center also provides individual counseling and insulin pump instruction.
The center helps facilitate a supportive network for people living with diabetes.
Learn more about classes and workshops at Diabetes Education Online.
Any doctor or health care facility can refer you to the Diabetes Teaching Center, or you may call directly to enter the program. Some insurance companies require authorization from a primary care provider.
The Diabetes Teaching Center's program is certified by the American Diabetes Association.
Our locations
Awards & recognition
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Among the top hospitals in the nation
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Best in Northern California for diabetes care & endocrinology
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Rated high-performing hospital for diabetes care
Support services
Plan your visit
What to Bring
- Photo I.D.
- Health insurance card
- Insurance authorization, if required
- Doctor's referral, if required
- Recent test results related to your condition
- List of your medications, including dosages, plus any you're allergic to
- List of questions you may have
- Device or paper for taking notes
