The focus of this qualitative phenomenological research study was the lived experience of married couples between the ages of 60 and 70, one of whom has type 2 diabetes. The author sought to discover additional meanings concerning the experience of diabetic education, adherence to medications plans, modifications in lifestyle, and the role of the non-diabetic spouse in the experience. Participants were six married couples between the ages of 60 and 70. Three wives and three husbands had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Two one hour interviews were conducted with each couple, both spouses present. Each couple was asked the question "Tell me what it is like living with diabetes." Interviews were audio taped and transcribed by the researcher. Informant volunteers were identified using the snowball method of sampling. The author identified the two domains of experience with the health care system and experience with the spouse..Themes of the first domain were identified as relationship with health care provider and education of patient and spouse at time of diagnosis. Themes in the second domain were spousal support, perceived compliance, and perceived risk of complications. Implications for adult education and advanced nursing practice include the importance of including the non-diabetic spouse in the education and treatment plan at time of diagnosis and offering a clear explanation of the relationship between adherence and long term complications of the disease. Suggestions for further research include investigation of the self reporting of behavior modification and outcomes of adherence, the effectiveness of provider interventions in monitoring behavioral changes, and to study women with diabetes married to men without diabetes. / Department of Educational Studies