Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered to be a risk factor for adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). There are limited studies regarding DM as a risk factor for long-term surgical outcomes of ventricular assist device (VAD) patients. Hypothesis After reviewing a benchmark article regarding VADs and DM, we hypothesized that a pre-implantation diagnosis of DM in our patients with VADs would result in a higher incidence of adverse surgical events and mortality. Methods In a retrospective medical chart review of VAD patients (n=188) implanted from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2017, we created two patient cohort groups: non-DM group (126) and DM group (62). We analyzed the following at 6, 12, and 24 months post-implant: INTERMACS profile status, hemolysis, sepsis, driveline infections, thrombus, gastrointestinal bleed, stroke, and overall survival. Results The log-rank test was insignificant for all time points, indicating there is no difference in 6, 12, or 24 months survival probabilities or rate of most adverse events post-implantation between the two groups. However, the test did show a statistically significant difference for the time until sepsis occurred (p- = 0.009, z = 6.907) between the two groups, showing a higher probability of sepsis occurring in the DM group. Conclusions Despite DM being a risk factor for adverse outcomes in HF patients, our study is in agreeance with a recent 2017 study showing that DM does not increase the rate of mortality or adverse events in these patients aside from rate of sepsis. Tight glucose control should be ensured following VAD placement as this may be responsible for the lack of increase in adverse events one would expect in these patients following the procedure. Additionally, extra efforts should be made to educate DM patients and emphasize infection prophylaxis by limiting movement of the percutaneous lead exit site.