Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure in Canada and around the globe. The treatment of kidney failure may require dialysis - a life-sustaining therapy. Dialysis therapy places significant demands on patients, adding an extra health burden for those navigating the transition to living with chronic diseases. It is well reported in literature that dialysis patients with diabetes compared to those without diabetes have poorer quality of life, longer lengths of hospital stay, a higher burden of morbidity and mortality, and significantly higher economic costs. However, literature on barriers to, and facilitators of, optimal self-management of diabetes are scant in patients with kidney failure. The aim of this thesis work was to understand, describe and interpret the perspectives of patients on barriers to, and facilitators of, diabetes self-management. A narrative review and interpretive descriptive qualitative study were undertaken to address the study aim. Semi-structured interviews with fourteen patients were conducted. A total of 134 articles were identified whereas eight articles met our inclusion criteria. A review of the articles and qualitative study revealed barriers to and facilitators of diabetes self-management. Emerging themes from the included studies and semi-structured interviews were identified using inductive thematic analysis. Barriers reported by participants were financial and physical limitations, limited access to healthcare services, siloed and fragmented care, increased medical complexity, and the higher burden of health. Facilitators of diabetes self-management were self-management support and education, coordinated care between healthcare providers, and supportive environments. Findings from this thesis work contribute to a broader scientific literature, facilitate further research in this domain to address barriers, and guide resource allocation concerning the improvement of diabetes care and self-management practices among patients with kidney failure on dialysis therapies.