OBJECTIVES: Non pharmacological treatment play a pivotal role in the diabetes care and management thus the aim of this study was to evaluate the exercise compliance and its confounding factors among diabetes patients in southern Punjab, Pakistan. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted from December 2015 to March 2016. Systemic random sampling technique was used to select the diabetic patients from three government hospitals and three private clinics. At least half hour rigorous walk/day, 5 days a week was set as minimum criteria for exercise compliance. Data was summarized by descriptive statistics. Bivariate and multivariable analysis was done to assess the factors independently associated with exercise compliance. Variables with P≤0.25 in bivariate analysis were used in multivariable logistic regression. Complete analysis was done on SPSS for Windows, Version 16.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) RESULTS: A total of 299 patients participated in the study. Mean age± SD of the respondent’s was 48.8±14.6 years and mean duration ± SD of disease was 9.08±6.9 years. Out of 299, 169 (56.5%) were males, 270 (90.3%) were married and 124 (41.5%) were under primary level of education. Family history of 204 (68.2%) patients was positive for diabetes. Out of total, 176 (58.8%) fulfilled the criteria for the compliance. Age (AOR=0.971 95% CI=0.951, 0.991 p=0.006), duration of disease more than 15 (AOR=3.418, 95% CI=1.252, 9.329 p=0.016) and believe that exercise will lead to weight loss (AOR=4.978, 95% CI=2.725, 9.093 p=0.00) were significantly associated with exercise compliance. Insignificant positive linear correlation was seen between exercise compliance and blood glucose level (r=0.11 p=0.057) CONCLUSIONS: Young age, more duration of disease and believe that exercise will lead to weight loss are deriving factors for the exercise compliance. Hence educating the patients on health benefits of exercise will improve compliance.