One reason for poor diabetes outcomes – the development of disabling, potentially life-threatening complications – is the lack of effective participation by people with diabetes in the management of their own condition. This participation is the key to successfully achieving therapeutic goals. To be able to follow a difficult and complex life-long regimen requires high levels of motivation and knowledge. Yet although extensive evidence supports this concept, only a minority of people receive appropriate diabetes education. Thus, many people with diabetes are handicapped in their self-care by limited knowledge and skills. The authors describe an initiative in La Plata, Argentina, which aims to promote and diffuse high-quality diabetes education by training healthcare providers to become expert educators.