Abstract: Objective To analyze the death causes and the impact on residents’ life of diabetes in Baoshan District of Shanghai, in order to provide scientific evidence for prevention and intervention measures. Methods The cause of death registration data came from the Baoshan District Life Statistical Surveillance Data. By using methods of time series analysis, indicators of crude mortality rate, standardized mortality rate, the percent rate, Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL), Average Years of Life Lost (AYLL) were used to analyze causes of death registration data of residents in Baoshan District in 1991-2011. Results From 1991 to 2011, a total of 3 115 death cases were due to diabetes mellitus. The average annual mortality rate was 19.69/100 000 (the average annual standardized mortality rate was 10.16/100 000), accounting for 2.89% of the total deaths. The mortality increased from 4.63/100 000 in 1991 to 32.14/100 000 in 2011, with increasing trend over time (P<0.01). Female average annual crude mortality rate (24.26/100 000), constituent ratio to all death causes (3.71%), and standardized mortality rate (11.21/100 000) were higher than those of males (15.29/100 000, 2.16%, and 8.80/100 000), and the crude mortality rate and constituent ratio to all death causes were both increased (all P<0.01). Agespecific mortality of diabetes (male/female/total) showed a significant increasing trend with age in the 0-84 years old group (all P<0.01). YPLL of the diabetic population increased from 115.31 years in 1991 to 2 744.63 years in 2011; the life expectancy increased from 76.03 years in 1991 to 82.11 years in 2011. YPLL and life expectancy of total population, males, and females increased with time (all P<0.01).ConclusionIn past 21 years, diabetes mortality and YPLL in Baoshan District showed increasing trend with time. Diabetes mellitus seriously influenced residents’health in Baoshan District.