Background Education for diabetes patients is not managed well by diabetes nurse educators because the competency of diabetes nurse educators is low, and the number of diabetes nurse educators in hospitals is not commensurate with the number of diabetes patients, which is much larger. Methods This qualitative phenomenological research uses an exploratory design. Twenty nurse managers and forty staff nurses who participated in the focus group discussion (FGD) were selected using purposive sampling. Nine staff nurses who participated in in-depth interviews were selected using the snowball method. The results of the FGD exploration and in-depth interviews produced components for developing an educational model with a management approach. The development of this educational model uses an input, process, output, and outcome approach. The input uses King’s conceptual framework approach, the method uses the theory of goal attainment and management functions, the output is the competency of nurses to educate diabetes patients, and the outcome is the health literacy of diabetes patients. This educational model was reviewed by three experts: a nursing management expert, a diabetes mellitus expert, and a health literacy expert. Results The educational model for Diabetes nurse educators with a management approach consists of five stages: 1) Educational planning includes identifying educational targets, strategy formulation, and situation analysis. 2) Organizing nursing resources includes strengthening the role of nurses as diabetes educators. 3) Nursing staff includes intraprofessional collaboration and collaboration between nurses and patient families. 4) Direction includes nurses’ motivation for diabetes patients and respecting the culture and values of diabetes patients. 5) Control includes evaluating nurse education for diabetes patients. Conclusion This education model has five competencies, which are structured and systematic so that diabetes nurse educators have the competence to manage diabetes patient education: the personal system, interpersonal system, and social system influence nurse competency.
