Diabetes educators are professional healthcare providers who are qualified to work with people in the management of their diabetes. The role of diabetes educators is dynamic and shaped by the environment in which they practise and by developments in research and technology. Core components are clinical care, education, counselling, research, and management. The role of the diabetes educator encompasses health promotion and the prevention of diabetes and its complications, and is undertaken by healthcare providers from a variety of disciplines and, in some cases, people with a non-medical background. The degree of emphasis that is placed on the components listed above and their related tasks varies between settings, and between healthcare disciplines, which involve different scopes of practice. Trisha Dunning describes the history and progression of diabetes education and looks forward to developments in the constantly changing role of the educator.