Exploring Facilitators and Barriers to Patient-Provider Communication Regarding Diabetes Self-Management

•HCP accessibility & partnership are facilitators to patient-provider communication.•Diabetes education empowers patients to communicate their needs with HCPs.•Patients' lack of preparation before appointments hinders communication with HCPs.•HCPs who focus on numbers or talk down to patients are barriers to communication.•Diabetes education should use tools for empowering patients to communicate with HCPs.