Objective <p>To explore the application of incremental education based on the target-reaching theory in persons with diabetes undergoing outpatient intensive insulin pump therapy, and to evaluate its impact on glycemic control, quality of life, and disease-related knowledge awareness.</p> Methods <p>From April 2021 to July 2023, 94 persons with diabetes receiving outpatient intensive insulin pump therapy were enrolled and randomized into two groups (<i>n</i> = 47). Both the control and intervention groups received Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES), and the intervention group additionally received incremental education based on the target-reaching theory. Both groups participated in a 4-week intervention program. Outcomes included glycemic parameters (fasting blood glucose [FPG], 2&#xa0;h postprandial blood glucose [2hPG], and glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c]), diabetes-specific quality of life (DSQL scores), and the awareness rate of the two groups was compared.</p> Results <p>After intervention, FPG, 2hPG, and HbA1c in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). After intervention, the DSQL scores in the intervention group were lower than those in the control group (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). After intervention, the awareness rate in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05).</p> Conclusion <p>Implementation of target-reaching theory-guided incremental education in outpatient insulin pump–treated persons with diabetes effectively improves glycemic control, improves quality of life, and increases the awareness of relevant knowledge. This approach is worthy of promotion and application.</p> Clinical trial number <p>Not applicable.</p>