Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of nutritional intervention on elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in community, so as to control T2DMs more effectively and improve the patients' life quality and prolong their life span. Methods The intervention group (130 cases) with a definite diagnosis of T2DM were included from one neighborhood of two communities respectively. So were the control group (130) by the same approach. The two groups were matched in sex and age. In addition to medical treatment, the intervention group was given diet guide, nutritional education, nutritional intervention and so on and the control group was given drug treatment alone. The data obtained was analyzed by group t test. Results The cases in the two groups had the same diet habit before intervention. After intervention, as compared with the control group, the intervention group had the diet constitution improved; and it was found that the blood sugar 2 hours after meal, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol,fasting plasma glucose, total triglyceride and HbAlc were significantly lower, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly higher(P<0.05). Conclusion The nutritional intervention can improve the glucose metabolism and reduce the risk factors in the T2DM population.