Objective To explore the periodontal disease occurrence and its factors for elderly type 2 diabetes patients, providing reference for comprehensive prevention and treatment measures. Methods 273 cases of elderly in-patients with type 2 diabetes in our hospital were enrolled. We checked their periodontal disease conditions, collected information including age, sex, educational level, body mass index, disease duration, smoking, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, brushing habits. These values were compared between periodontal disease group and no periodontal disease group. Results People with periodontal disease in 273 cases of the object of study included 154 patients (56.41%), among them, gingivitis 60 cases, 94 cases of periodontitis. The teeth number was (18.54±6.31) for periodontal disease group on average, with (21.62 ±7.48) for no periodontal disease group (t=3.679, P<0.001). Older (P<0.001), longer course of disease (P<0.001), smoking (P<0.001), higher fasting blood glucose (P<0.001) and higher glycosylated hemoglobin (P<0.001) were risk factors of periodontal disease for elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. And well-educated (P=0.017), brushing teeth frequency > 1 / d (P<0.001), vertical brush mode (P=0.004), the use of dental floss (P=0.004) were the protective factors. Conclusion Periodontal disease prevalence is high in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. The three level preventive measures should be strengthened to reduce the exposure of the periodontal disease risk factors.