Objective To determine the trend in diabetes-related death and probability of premature mortality among residents in Yangpu District of Shanghai and provide evidence for the formulation of relevant intervention strategies.

Methods Mortality and demographic data were collected among residents in Yangpu District of Shanghai from 2002 to 2020. Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square test with SPSS 21.0 and Excel 2010. Joinpoint regression was used to determine annual percent change （APC）. The mortality was standardized by utilizing the world standard population in 2000.

Results A total of 25 091 cases of diabetes-related deaths were reported in Yangpu District， Shanghai from 2002 to 2020. The average annual crude mortality of diabetes-related diseases was 122.10/10⁵， which was 116.13/10⁵ in males and 128.23/10⁵ in females. The difference between males and females in crude mortality was statistically significant （P<0.05）. Moreover， primary causes of diabetes-related deaths were diabetes， cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases， and tumors. Among diabetic deaths， peripheral circulatory complications accounted for 50.79%， followed by renal complications （16.05%）. The crude mortality in males， females， and total of diabetes-related diseases showed an upward trend， while the standardized mortality remained stable with an upward trend in male and a downward trend in female. Furthermore， the crude mortality in males， females， and total of diabetes complicated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases showed an increasing trend. In contrast， both the standardized mortality in males and in total showed an increasing trend， while that in females remained stable. The overall crude mortality of diabetes was on the rise， which was increasing in males and stable in females. The overall standard mortality of diabetes was on the decline， which was increasing in males while declining in females. In addition， the probability of premature mortality caused by diabetes-related diseases， cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases complicated with diabetes， and diabetes decreased from 2002 to 2020 with no statistical significance. Males showed an upward trend while females showed a downward trend.

Conclusion The mortality of diabetes-related diseases， cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases complicated with diabetes， and diabetes among residents in Yangpu District of Shanghai is on the rise. Similarly， standardized mortality and probability of premature mortality in males for all three diseases are also on the rise. It warrants more attention to the health of male diabetes patients and targeted measures to reduce the disease burden.