Objective To discuss the influence of individualized health education based on combination of TCM and western medicine on the life quality of patients with diabetes mellitus in order to supply novel idea and method for carried out education about diabetes mellitus. Methods Hospitalized patients (140 cases) were randomized into the control group and the test group with 70 cases in each group. Both groups received routine diabetes drugs treatment. The patients and their family members received individualized health education based on combination of TCM and western medicine during their hospitalization days and 6 months after discharge. SF-36 inventory and diabetes cognitive questionnaire was adopted to investigate the two groups. Results The diabetes cognitive degree of the test group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.01). Six items such as social function, systemic health, body pain, psychological health, vigor and emotional role function of the test group was different from those of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Individualized health education based on combination of TCM and western medicine contributed to the improvement of patients' life quality.