In the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus, patient “non-compliance” has been discussed since the 1970s. It is quite important that physicians not only prescribe medicine but also instruct the patients to support their therapy through lifestyle modification etc. For that purpose it is essential to establish a good physician-patient relationship. We carried out a literature search for articles that focused on the physician-patient relationship, and discussed with German medical students of the Westphalian Wilhelms University in Münster the differences between these relationships in both Japan and Germany.“ Adequate communication” and “continuous treatment by the same physician” can be major factors contributing to a better physician-patient relationship in patients with chronic diseases such as type II diabetes mellitus. In Germany, a primary care physician system has been established to facilitate continuous medical treatment and to improve the physician-patient relationship, while systems for disease prevention such as health screening programs are well developed in Japan. From now on, comprehensive health care systems, including disease prevention and disease management programs that foster a good physician-patient relationship are highly desirable for the management of various life style-related diseases.
