Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that requires several daily self-management decisions and complex care activities. Clinical management of diabetes and teaching patients diabetes self-management skills are necessary for optimal type 2 diabetes control. Diabetes self-management education (DSME) and support require time and resources. While there is a plethora of education material for health care professionals to use, very few guides compile the information in a practical way to relay the information to the patient. This quick guide to DSME has been developed to give physicians and their staff the tools to teach basic type 2 diabetes self-management skills in three 15-minute clinic visits.