Introduction: Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are mostly engaged in emotional and social relations. The survey is of cross-sectional and descriptive nature conducted to determine the level of illness acceptance by individuals with diabetes and care burden of those who give care to these individuals. Methodology: The survey was conducted during the period September 2016-April 2018 at the Endocrine and Metabolism Polyclinic of a university hospital. Data collection tools were "Patient Description Form" and "Illness Acceptance Scale" for individuals with diabetes, and "Caregiver Description Form" and "Care Burden Scale" for caregivers. Findings: It is found that the average illness acceptance score (AIS) of diabetics covered by the survey is 23.67±8.64, and average care burden score of caregivers is 34.78±17.56. there is statistically significant difference in AIS scores with respect to employment status, education level, training in diabetes, and presence of eye and kidney complications (p>0.05). No statistically significant difference could be found with respect to care burden and characteristics of care givers (p<0.05). Between the average score in illness acceptance level of diabetics and average score in care burden by caregivers, there is a weak negative correlation (r=-.216).
Conclusion:The survey found that illness acceptance by diabetics and the care burden of care givers are both at medium level. The management of diabetics usually takes place in the context of relations with caregivers/family. Thus, caregivers must be encouraged by health professionals to participate to diabetes management programmes.