Abstract:Objective To investigate the level of resourcefulness among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods Using the general information questionnaire, resourcefulness scale and diabetes specific quality of life scale to investigate the elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in outpatient clinic of endocrinology department. Results The total score of resourcefulness in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes was (79.70±23.83), which is at a moderate level. The total score of quality of life was (52.41±12.71), which is at a moderate level. The resourcefulness score of patients in 60 to 69 years old group were higher than that of patients in the age ≥ 70 (P < 0.01). There were significant differences in the level of resourcefulness among different cultural levels, which showed that the patients with education level in primary school and below scored higher in resourcefulness. (P < 0.05). The level of resourcefulness in patients with 5 to 10 years course of disease was higher than that in patients with less than 5 years course of disease, and complications were the factors influencing the score of resourcefulness (P < 0.05). The results of multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed the predictive factors of senile type 2 diabetes mellitus were quality of life and course of disease (P < 0.05), which could explain 35.2% of the total variation. Conclusions For the patients with lower resourcefulness, measures should be taken to increase the utilization of social resource and to reduce the expenditure of medical expenses and the burden of social pension.