Introduction. In Poland, diabetes suffers from 10–15% of people over the age of 65, and taking into account people with elevated, but not critical glucose levels, this percentage is as high as 25–30% of the population. According to the WHO, by 2025 the number of diabetics worldwide will reach 300 million cases. Material and methods. In this paper, the method has been applied on the individual case (case study). The aim of the study is to determine the role of nurses in the preparation of an elderly patient to self-care. The technique of interview, observation, make measurements and analysis of documentation. The study included patients aged 85 years living alone, suffering from diabetes for more than twenty years. Results. The results lead to the conclusion that the main expectation of the patient to a nurse was to learn self-control blood sugar levels, learning skills of self-inject insulin as well as an indication of the correct way of taking care of body hygiene. Conclusions. The patient could not perform properly manual tasks associated with the use to the pen, gleukometrem and insulin administration. The patient does not have full knowledge about the disease and its complications, especially shortcomings concerning states of hypo and hyperglycemia. Lack of conviction of the patient on the importance of proper foot care in this disease entity. Lack of proper care also stems from the patient's age, who, through his incompetence and clumsiness is not able to properly take care of hygiene not only the feet but also the entire body. Education of the patient and his family can raise a sense of awareness of the complications of diabetes.

Key words: care, custody, diabetes of type 2, education, prevention.