The prevalence of chronic disorders increases as Americans age. Diabetes is a major chronic health problem affecting 13 to 14 million people in the United States (U.S.) with approximately five percent of these diabetic patients over the age of 65 years. Complications from diabetes are continuing to rise in the U.S. each year. Diet, exercise, and medications are the three main components of the treatment for people with non- insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Non-adherence to a diabetic regimen leads to end organ damage, co-morbidity, decreased quality of life, and eventually death. Adherence to this regimen leads to the greatest health improvement, yet these critical components are the most difficult to change. The success of the diabetic regimen often depends on the patient's available resources that influence or initiate a change in behavior. Family and social support could be one of the resources needed to help improve diabetes management and glycemic control. The purpose of the proposed innovation is to initiate a comprehensive diabetic education program for NIDDM patients using Orem' s Self-Care Theory that will incorporate the patient's family and social support into the treatment care plan. The proposed innovation will be conducted in a five-week self-management series designed for the individual with NIDDM and his/her family or the support system. The education program will include a pre-education needs assessment and both a knowledge and physiological component. A post-education knowledge test will be repeated at six months and the physiological component will be repeated at three months and six months. The pre- and post-education values will be compared at six months.