X-PERT, the acronym for eXpert Patient Education versus Routine Treatment, is a diabetes self-management programme. This thesis explores a different approach to patient education. It begins with an overview of the epidemiology of Type 2 diabetes and exploration of health behaviour models. A systematic review of group-based, self-management diabetes education programmes is then presented. The tutor s manual for the expert patient programme X-PERT is outlined. The design of the clinical trial was to invite the intervention group to attend the X-PERT Programme but to make individual appointments...