Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is increases among the world. The prevalence, 2012, in Tanzania was 493 000 of 45 million people. At the hospital where this study is carried out diabetes mellitus was the seventh most common cause of death among adults, in 2011. To give a good nursing care, a good interaction between the nurses and the patients are needed. 

Aim: The aim of this study is to describe nurses’ experience of caring patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Tanzania.

Method: A qualitative method was used and seven interviews were made with diplomated nurses, working at a hospital in rural area in Tanzania. For analyzing the data, a qualitative content analysis was used.

Results: Nurses found that there are challenges to care for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Some challenges were to get patients to understand and follow recommendations, especially about food. There were challenges to give adequate  nursing care, for instance to care of complications. Another finding was that nurses had a feeling of being insufficient, because of lack of knowledge.

Conclusion: Nurses asked for more knowledge about type 2 diabetes mellitus.  In order to implement adequate nursing care a suggestion is to develop and use guidelines.