Objective To investigate the nutritional status and glycemic control level in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in urban community of Yangpu district in Shanghai. Methods The 24-hour dietary recall method for 3 consecutive days was used to investigate the dietary nutrients intake in 400 patients with type 2 diabetes. Results The ratio of patients with blood glucose level less than 6.1mmol/L was 23.3% (93/400). The energy intake in patients with type 2 diabetes was low, and only reached 62.81% of the recommended standard of energy intake for adults. The energy ratio of three diet nutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrate) were 14.41%, 33.93%, 51.66% respectively, which showed that the energy ratio of fat was relatively high. The energy ratio of breakfast, lunch and supper dinner were 23.37%, 38.05% and 38.57% respectively. The average intake of vitamin E, iron, niacin, manganese, phosphorus and cholesterol in elderly patients was more than the recommended standard of adult diet nutrients, and reached 149.6%, 138.1%, 137.1%, 132.5%, 127.5% and 122.0% of the recommended standard respectively. But the average intakes of protein, fat, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, calcium, zinc, copper, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and vitamin C in elderly patients were lower than the recommended standard, and reached 77.9%, 90.3%, 57.1%, 50.7%, 49.3%, 81.4%, 75.7%, 75.7%, 77.5%, 77.0%, 55.1%, 58.1% and 67.6% of the recommended standard respectively. Conclusions The status of dietary nutrients intake in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in Yangpu district of Shanghai is unreasonable, the intakes of dietary fiber, calcium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 etc. were insufficient, and reasonable diet instruction should be provided for the elderly patients. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Nutrition surveys; Diet surveys