Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires continuous and mindful self-care. However, most diabetic patients suffer from severe stress from the disease itself, as well as the required treatments. Diabetic patients are prone to psychosocial problems, including psychological adaptation to accepting the fact that they are diabetic, the burden to change behavior and living habits to manage the disease, and the anxiety and fear of complications. Therefore, a diabetes educator needs to understand the psychological responses that occur when a patient is diagnosed with the disease, in order to understand the needs of diabetic patients. (J Korean Diabetes 2011;12:225-227)