Objective To observe the effect of medication compliance and self-efficacy of schizophrenia patients with diabetes by continuing self-management education. Methods A total of 60 patients with schizophrenia with diabetes diagnostic criteria were divided into experimental group (30 cases) and control group (30 cases) by the admission number, 2 groups received conventional drug treatment, the control group received general preaching health education pattern, were each issued a health education manual, with schizophrenia and diabetes health knowledge division, the test group on the basis of the continuation of the implementation of self-management education, followed up 12 months after discharge, compared 2 groups of patients with medication compliance and recurrence rate, with General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) assessment level of 2 groups of patients with self-efficacy, fasting blood glucose (FPG) was determined by automatic biochemical analyzer, 2 hours postprandial blood glucose (2 hPBG). Results Six months after discharge, 82.1%(23/28) cases were complete compliance, 14.3%(4/28) cases of partial compliance, 3.6%(1/28) cases of non-compliance, 55.2%(16/29)cases of the control group complete compliance, 27.6%(8/29) cases of partial compliance, 17.2%(5/29) cases of non-compliance, the differences between two groups were statistically significant (χ2=37.41, P<0.05). The 12 month test group of full compliance discharged 75.0%(21/28) cases, 14.3%(4/28) cases of partial compliance, 10.7%(3/28) cases of non-compliance, 31.0%(9/29) cases of the control group complete compliance, 31.0%(9/29) cases of partial compliance, 37.9%(11/29) cases of non-compliance, the test group compliance was higher than the control group (χ2=11.27, P<0.05). The score after 6 months and 12 months respectively for the test group general self-efficacy scored 35.32 ± 2.02, 34.18 ± 1.77, control group scored 24.03 ± 3.04, 22.48 ± 2.01, the differences between two groups were statistically significant (t=16.445, 23.304, P<0.01). After 6 months in test group FPG and 2 hPBG were (5.71 ± 1.05), (9.46 ± 1.37) mmol/L, control group were (7.79 ± 1.05),(12.28 ± 2.07) mmol/L, the differences between two groups were statistically significant (t=7.483, 6.023, P<0.01). 12 months after discharge in test group FPG and 2 hPBG respectively (5.89±1.13), (9.68±1.09) mmol/L, control group (9.14±1.19), (13.17±1.42) mmol/L, test group FPG and 2 hPBG were lower than the control group (t=10.550, 7.431, P<0.01). After 6 months and 12 months, the recurrence rate of experimental group were 7.1% (2/28) and 24.1% (7/29) respectively, and control group were 14.3%(4/28) and 44.8%(13/29), the recurrence rate of experimental group was lower than the control group, there was significant difference between 2 groups (χ2=4.326, 6.225, P< 0.05 or 0.01). Conclusions Self-management education can improve the medication compliance and self-efficacy, improve mental symptoms and sugar metabolism, and reduce the recurrence rate.