This study was conducted to test the effect of a self regulation education program as a nursing intervention with chronically ill patients. A quasi experimental research(non equivalent control group pretest-posttest design) was used in this study. The subjects were 30 non insulin dependent diabetic patients(experimental group : 14 patients, control group : 16 patients). The study was carried out from May, 1995 to February, 1996. Data were collected before the education program, immediately after ＆ 2 menths later and were analyzed with repeated measure ANCOVA, paired t-test and t-test. The results are as follows : 1. There was a significant difference in self efficacy between the two groups（F＝27.61, P＝0.000）. There was a significant difference according to experimental stages（F＝33.09, P＝0.000） and interaction between education and experimental stages（F＝30.21, P＝0.000）. 2. There was a significant difference in self care behavior between the two groups（F＝27.05, P＝0. 000). There was a significant difference according to experimental stages（F＝31.14, P＝0.000） and interaction between education and experimental stages（F＝28.88, P＝0.000）. 3. There was a significant difference in glycemic control between before the education program and 2 months iater in the experimental group （t＝2.88, P＝0.013）. But there was no significant difference between before the education program and 2 months later in the control group. These results suggest that a self regulation education program is effective in promoting ＆ maintaining self care behavior and in improving glycemic control.. Thus this program can be recommended as an effective nursing intervention for chronically ill patients including diabetic patients.