Objective To compile the Chinese version of the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale, evaluate its reliability, validity, and test-retest reliability, and assess the self-efficacy of diabetic outpatients in third level hospitals in Shanghai. Methods From June to August 2015, a total of 410 patients diagnosed with type-2 diabetes by diabetes clinics in Ruijin Hospital, Renji Hospital, and Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital were surveyed with questionnaires by the use of convenience sampling method. Test-retest reliability of the scale was assessed by re-surveying 32 of them two weeks after the first survey. Results The Cronbachs α coefficients for main indexes of the scale were in the range of 0.611-0.947 and the test-retest Spearman correlation coefficients were in the range of 0.418-0.980. Factor analysis indicated a good construct validity of the questionnaire. Four common factors covering healthy diet, diet and blood sugar, healthy behaviors and drug adherence could explain 70.38% contents of the scale. The overall self-efficacy and self-efficacy of each dimension in diabetic outpatients were satisfactory. The total score of self-efficacy was positively associated with that of self-management (P=0.000). Conclusion The Chinese version of the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale is reliable and credible in studying health self-management of patients with diabetes and lays a good foundation for exploring health behavior interventions in diabetic patients in Shanghai.