As a young man, Oscar Cordova enjoyed body building. He would spend four or five hours at the gym and could bench press 500 pounds. To bulk up, Cordova, who is 5’ 9”, would eat fast food. He soon weighed 300 pounds.
By his mid-20s, the San Francisco native was married with two sons and working in finance when doctors diagnosed him with type 2 diabetes.
“I was young and I thought I was invincible,” said Cordova. “I didn’t take it seriously. I didn’t listen to the doctors.”
Now 53, Cordova is sharing his story in advance of World Diabetes Day on November 14 in hopes that it might inspire others to take action before reaching a health crisis.
Diabetes is one of the world’s fastest-growing health conditions. An estimated 84 million Americans are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Early action accelerates access to care and lifestyle changes can reduce complications.
After his children grew up and moved out, Cordova found himself turning to food for comfort. Doctors prescribed medications to help him manage his diabetes, but he didn’t take them consistently. He had low energy. He stopped going to the gym. His blood sugar readings were frequently in the 300 to 400 range.
For healthy adult men without diabetes, a normal fasting blood sugar range is 70 to 99.
Then came a wake-up call.
After developing a sore on his leg in May, Cordova sought care and was admitted to Sutter Mills Peninsula Medical Center, which has been recognized by The Leapfrog Group in 2026 as a Recognized Leader in Caring for People Living with Diabetes. He learned his blood sugar levels had climbed above 500, a medical emergency, which impaired his ability to fight off infection and prevented wound healing.
"I got scared.” Cordova said. “I have grandkids. I didn't want to have a stroke."
During the hospitalization, he was treated by a team of physicians and nurses, including specialists in managing diabetes, and was given medications to treat his infection. His hospital diabetes team worked with him to teach him the importance of controlling his blood sugars to help prevent complications and to come up with a diabetes treatment and follow-up plan to ensure he was successful after he was discharged from the hospital.
That’s when Cordova met Maralyn Weaver, the clinical education manager of the Diabetes department at Mills Peninsula. She asked Cordova what his goals were, and together they developed a plan that would support lifestyle changes. Managing diabetes isn’t about what you can’t do, she said, it’s about what’s in your control.
“Diabetes is one of the only diseases where you can control your outcomes,” Weaver said.
Determined to improve his health, Cordova committed to making significant lifestyle changes. He started taking medication to reduce his food cravings. He followed his care team’s instructions, cut sugar from his diet and lost weight.
Cordova saw results quickly. Within three and a half months, he had lowered his A1C, a test that evaluates the percentage of hemoglobin in red blood cells that have glucose attached, from 15 to 8. His blood sugar dropped to160. He also noticed improvements in his vision, energy level and overall well-being.
"I could have not done this without help," Cordova said. " I'm feeling so much better. I can see better, I'm less in pain.”
Today, his motivation is simple.
"I don't want to die,” Cordova said. “I've got grandkids. I love life. I want to live. If there’s anything I can do to help save somebody, I’d like to do that.”
Sutter Mills Peninsula Medical Center is planning a “Live Your Best Life With Diabetes” event on November 14, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm at The Atrium on the Burlingame campus located at 1501 Trousdale Drive. The event will include presentations from diabetes experts on heart health, diabetes technology, nutrition, physical activity and emotional well-being. This patient education event has been held annually for over 15 years and demonstrates Sutter Mills Peninsula Medical Center’s commitment to educating and supporting its community, in particular patients living with diabetes.
