Objective: Based on data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), people with diabetes in the world will increase to 552 million by 2030. In addition to direct treatment, diabetics also need to be given the knowledge to do care independently. Diabetes Self Management Education (DSME) is one alternative that can be done to cure people with diabetes. The main purpose in the care of diabetic patients is the improvement of quality of life, good metabolic control and prevention of complications, so that diabetes is very important to be understood by patients, including families. Methods: The method used in this study is to review several previous studies taken from reputable electronic databases. The literature used in this research are several studies that have been published in reputable journals from 2003 to 2019. Results: Based on the results of a review of the literature from several studies, giving a correct understanding of the self-care of diabetic patients to patients and families requires diabetics to live like other healthy people, which in turn can increase the productivity and level of family welfare in which patients live. The application of education with the DSME principle approach can have an impact on good self-management skills so that it can improve the compliance behavior of diabetic patients. Conclusion: DSME can be used as an alternative method in improving self-care of diabetic patients.