Nobody can single-handedly manage the many and diverse aspects of diabetes. To be effective, diabetes care requires the coordinated input of people with diabetes and a range of healthcare providers, including a diabetes nurse, dietician, psychologist, pharmacist, physiotherapist or podiatrist, among others. Close collaboration between these professionals is central to providing optimum healthcare to people with diabetes. However, a lack of human resources is often an important limiting factor. Sanjay Kalra and Bharti Kalra report from northern India on an initiative which aims to meet the need for staff in the region to care for the growing number of people with diabetes.