OBJECTIVES: Self-care in diabetes can avoid the risk of serious complications and also influence a person’s HRQOL. This study examined the association of self-care behavior with four measures of HRQOL-General Heath, Physical Distress, Mental Distress and Activity Limitations in diabetic patients. METHODS: Data of non-institutionalized US population aged 18 years or older was obtained from 2010 BRFSS. A total of 4996 individuals who reported diabetes and all the four measures of HRQOL were used in the study. Self-care behavior comprised of both, Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) and self foot-care carried out atleast once a day. RESULTS: Of 4996 diabetic patients, SMBG was performed daily by 77.28% and self foot-care was done daily by 73.32%. Yet, less than half (41.17%) of diabetic patients had a self-care behavior (SMBG and self-foot care both on a daily basis).  Diabetic patients without self-care behavior were significantly more likely than diabetic patients with self-care behavior to report fair/poor General Health (82.48% vs. 75.35%, p<0.0001); Frequent (≥ 14 days in past 30 days) Physical Distress (71.66% vs. 64.03%, p<0.0001); Frequent Mental Distress (56.65% vs. 52.99%, p= 0.0104) and Frequent Activity Limitations (64.04% vs. 56.10%, p<0.0001). Self-care behavior was significantly associated with all the four measure of HRQOL in non-institutionalized diabetic patients aged 18 years or above.  CONCLUSIONS: Self-care behavior is of utmost importance in diabetes as it can delay the progression of this lifestyle disease. Impaired HRQOL was reported significantly more in those diabetic patients without a self-care behavior as compared to those with it. Incorporating SMBG and self foot-care on a day to day basis can facilitate to keep diabetes under control and even improve HRQOL.