OBJECTIVES:  To assess the effectiveness of a structured, group-based type 2 diabetes self-management education (T2DSME) programme on participant’s health outcomes. METHODS:  A pre-post study design was employed. Adults diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes were invited to attend weekly, group-based self-management education offered in local community halls (average 2.5-hour per session for 6 consecutive weeks). The programme was developed by a multidisciplinary healthcare team (i.e. pharmacist, diabetic nurse educator, dietitian, physiotherapist and medical doctor). Empowerment philosophy and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory were applied. Participant’s clinical [HbA1c, fasting glucose, blood pressure, lipids, weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference] and humanistic (knowledge related to diabetes management, self-care behaviours, self-efficacy and quality-of-life) outcomes were assessed at baseline, post 2-month and post 6-month of the programme. RESULTS:  A total of 46 participants consented to the programme; 39 (84.8%) attended three or more sessions. After 2-month, participants demonstrated significant improvement in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.001), knowledge related to diabetes management (p = 0.025) and certain self-care behaviours including blood glucose monitoring (p < 0.001) and foot care (p = 0.024). The aforementioned outcomes were also maintained at 6-month. However, participants did not maintain the decreasing trend of HbA1c observed at 2-month with significant HbA1c increase reported at 6-month compared to 2-month (p < 0.001). At 6-month, other positive outcomes observed were improvement in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.029) and quality-of-life (p = 0.010). No significant differences were found in other outcomes (i.e. fasting glucose, blood pressure, triglycerides, weight, BMI, waist circumference, self-efficacy, diet, medication-taking and exercise components of self-care behaviour) between baseline, post-2 month and post-6 month of the programme. CONCLUSIONS:  Findings suggest that short-term structured T2DSME may improve patient’s clinical and psychosocial outcomes. However, self-management education should be reinforced in a continuous manner to help patients in sustaining good glycaemic control.