This article examines the relationship between sociodemographic factors and sources of support in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients living in a socially deprived area of Guadalajara, Mexico. A total of 121 diabetic subjects and the same number of caretakers, spouses and children, participated in the study. Findings show that some variables of diabetic individuals are associated with caretakers' age, sex and kinship. Moreover, sex distribution of children and family composition were also associated with sources of support. No association was found between disease characteristics and those of caretakers. The impact of these results on health services programs is discussed.