37 insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetics answered a multiple-choice questionnaire during inpatient educational sessions. 12 dietetic and 12 pathophysiologic questions had to be answered. Statistical analysis of factors influencing the number of errors can be summed up as follows: there is a direct correlation between age of the patient and number of errors; the older the patient, the greater the number of errors. However, insulin-dependent diabetics committed fewer errors than non-insulin-dependent subjects of the same age, which suggests greater motivation in the first group due to their treatment. The test likewise affords the patients an opportunity of reviewing unclear topics and enables the educational team to adapt their teaching to the patients.