Behavioral research on patient compliance with regimens to manage diabetes has suffered from lack of conceptual rigor, although a handful of recent studies and reviews are more theoretically oriented. The present review proposes a comprehensive conceptual framework in the context of learning theory to explain patient compliance and to derive approaches for enhancing compliance. The conceptual framework is the health belief model (HBM) expanded to include the concept of perceived self-efficacy. This expanded model may both serve as an agenda for future research as well as a set of guidelines for the education of patients with diabetes. A variety of educational interventions is recommended for use in patient education provided they succeed in reinforcing relevant health beliefs, behavioral skills, and the sense of self-efficacy. The problem of long-term maintenance, of particular significance in chronic disease management, is addressed by the relapse prevention model derived from social learning theory and emphasizing self-efficacy and the learning of coping skills.