Abstract: Suggestions for providing patient education for the diabetic are presented. Educating the diabetic about his disease and its management is important if control is to be maintained. Therapy consists of day-to-day (and in some cases, hour by hour) management while living as vigorous a life as possible. A list of questions that the diabetic needs to know to manage his disease and what the family needs to know to help him manage are given. Thirty-six chapters are divided among six major sections focusing on: the need for diabetes education; what to teach (information to maintain life, foot care, sex, urine testing, exercise); general teaching approaches (assessing motivation, managing behavior, and use of group dynamics); needs of people in special circumstances (e.g., children, pregnant women); recognized programs that exemplify teaching the diabetic (e.g., Joslin Clinic); and assessment of program effectiveness (how 1 hospital assesses patient education). (kbc).