Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic, lifelong condition which requires that patients make daily decisions regarding the management.The influence of family members on diabetes management and glycaemic control (positive or negative) has been documented by some authors (Garcia-Huidobro, Bittner, Brahm, & Puschel, 2010; Mayberry & Osborn, 2012; Tang, Brown, Funnell, & Anderson, 2008).These decisions include appropriate dietary intake, physical activity and adherence to medications, oftentimes with minimal input from a healthcare professional (Jarvis, Skinner, Carey, & Davies, 2010).In many healthcare facilities in Nigeria, individuals with diabetes are provided with diabetes self-management education (DSME) by nurses at the point of diagnosis and during follow-up visits.Evidence supporting the important role of the family in DSM in south-west Nigeria is limited, and data on the extent to which patients' personal factor affects self-management are also scarce.Individuals with DM like others live with and interact with their family members.