OBJECTIVE: To identify in the literature evidence of the effectiveness and efficacy of educational interventions in reducing metabolic and/or vascular complications in adults with diabetes mellitus. METHOD: A systematic review performed in LILACS, IBECS, CUMED, CINAHL and Medline databases and in the online library SciELO with studies published from 2004 to 2014. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included (5 randomized clinical trials and 6 quasi-experimental). We only identified studies that analyzed vascular complications. CONCLUSION: Two clinical trials demonstrated efficacy in reducing cardiovascular complications, of cataract or retinopathy and nephropathy and all the quasi-experimental studies showed effectiveness in reducing feet ulcers, peripheral neuropathy and vasculopathy, and maintenance of kidney function.

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