<![CDATA[Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease that requires sustainable self-management to prevent complications and improve quality of life, particularly among the elderly. Limited knowledge and self-care skills remain obstacles to effective Diabetes Mellitus control at the community level. This community service activity aimed to improve the self-care abilities of elderly people with Diabetes Mellitus through a community-based Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) program in the working area of Cendrawasi Health Center, Makassar City. The activity was conducted on April 20, 2026, involving 32 elderly participants with Diabetes Mellitus. The implementation adopted a Community Based Health Education Program approach through stages, including problem identification, activity planning, health education, interactive discussions, skill demonstrations, independent diabetes management practices, and assistance in developing self-care plans. Evaluation was conducted by comparing participants’ self-care abilities before and after the education program, covering dietary regulation, physical activity, blood sugar monitoring, medication adherence, and diabetic foot care. The results showed an improvement in the self-care abilities of elderly participants following the DSME intervention. The average self-care ability increased from 51.9% before education to 81.9% after education, representing an increase of 30.0%. The greatest improvement occurred in blood sugar monitoring and diabetic foot care, each increasing by 37.5%. These findings indicate that community-based DSME can improve the knowledge, skills, and independence of elderly people in managing Diabetes Mellitus. Therefore, this program is recommended as a promotive and preventive strategy involving health workers, health cadres, families, and the community through continuous education, monitoring, and support to strengthen sustainable diabetes self-management practices.]]>
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