['The aim is to analyse the association between social network and self-rated health in a longitudinal design for persons with type 2 diabetes, comparing them with persons without diabetes.', "The analyses are based on data from the population-based 'KORA-A study' conducted in the region of Augsburg (Germany), with data from 1990/1995 (t0) and 1998 (t1), including 164 persons with type 2 diabetes and 207 persons without diabetes. The social network was assessed by the Berkman/Syme index.", 'For the type 2 diabetes group, the multivariate analyses show that a high score of social network at t0 is associated with good self-rated health at t1, even if self-rated health at t0 is included in the model (OR 2.69; 95% CI: 1.21-5.98). For the non-diabetes group, no such association was found.'] Does social network effect on self-rated health in type 2 diabetic patients -- result from a longitudinal population-based study?