Abstract: Objective To investigate the loneliness status of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus （T2DM） in the community and analyze its influencing factors. Methods The elderly T2DM patients in the community were selected by random sampling method. The loneliness of T2DM patients was assessed by the Loneliness Scale （ULS-8）, the self-perceived aging was assessed by the Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire （B-APQ）, and the depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patients Health Questionnaire Depressive Symptoms Scale （PHQ-9）. The correlation between the patient's ULS-8 score, B-APQ score, and PHQ-9 score was analyzed, and the factors that affected the occurrence of loneliness in patients were analyzed. Results The average ULS-8 score, B-APQ score, and PHQ-9 score of T2DM patients were （20.14±2.13）, （46.75±5.42）, and （6.23±1.54）, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the ULS-8 score was positively correlated with the B-APQ score and PHQ-9 score in T2DM patients （both P<0.01）. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that T2DM patients who were unmarried/divorced/widowed （β’=0.315）, with an educational level of high school and below （β’=0.458）, living alone （β’=0.217）, never exercise （β’=0.170）, high B-APQ score （β’=0.373）, high PHQ-9 score （β’=0.135） had a high sense of loneliness. Conclusion The ULS-8 score of T2DM patients is at a high level. Marital status, education level, living style, exercise situation, B-APQ score, and PHQ-9 score are the factors that affect loneliness in T2DM patients. Intervention measures should be taken for the above high-risk groups to minimize the loneliness of patients and promote their recovery.

Key words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Elderly, Community, Influencing factor, Loneliness