Background: Motivational interviewing (MI) is a bio psychosocial strategy aimed at implementing health-related behavioral modification through counselling in a provider-client interaction in healthcare. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder of glycemic control influenced by diet, physical activity and lifestyle, all of which are influenced by MI. Objective: To evaluate the evidence for use of MI in people with DM. Methods: A systematic review was performed using search terms, “motivational interviewing and diabetes/diabetic” to identify studies which were descriptively categorized under prevention and treatment of DM. Results: Of the 27 included studies , there was one study on prevention, 21 studies on treatment (effects of treatment=15; patient perceptions=6) and five studies on effects of professional education/ training. Conclusion: The evidence for MI’s use in DM is inconclusive, with mixed findings reported in studies. MI had a positive trend for producing better glycemic control and better patient perceptions and adherence to prescribed regimen of exercise/ physical activity.

Keywords: Behavioral counselling; Lifestyle modification; Metabolic syndrome; biopsychosocial model.