Objective To explore the effect of motivational interviewing in caring type 2 diabetic patients with gastric bypass. Methods Eighteen type 2 diabetes patients from June 2012 to November 2012 were assigned in the control group and another 20 patients during December to May 2013 in the intervention group. The control group received the traditional nursing, while the intervention group received motivational interviewing. The two groups were compared in terms of anxiety, self-management ability and blood glucose. Result The follow-up 3 months after intervention showed the intervention group was significantly better than the control group in terms of anxiety, self-management ability and blood glucose (P<0.05). Conclusion The motivational interviewing can improve psychological state and self-management skill of patients so that recovery process is facilitated.