Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of nursing intervention for diabetic nephropathy based on Maslow's hierarchy theory. Methods Seventy patients with diabetic nephropathy admitted to our hospital from April 2017 to April 2018 were divided into two groups according to random number table method. Patients in the control group were given routine nursing mode. Patients in the study group were given nursing intervention based on Maslow's hierarchy theory on the basis of routine nursing. Results After nursing, the blood sugar, urea nitrogen and creatinine of the study group were lower than those of the control group (all P<0.05). The physiological score, social score, psychological score, disease score, satisfaction score and total nursing score of the study group were higher than those of the control group (all P<0.05). Before nursing, the scores of anxiety and depression in the control group were (54.1±6.3) and (55.6±5.8), respectively, while those in the study group were (54.2±6.5) and (55.8±5.7). After nursing, the scores of anxiety and depression in the control group were (47.8±7.4) and (48.5±7.5). The scores of anxiety and depression in the study group were (40.1±5.1) and (41.1±5.1), respectively, which were lower than those before nursing, and were lower than those before nursing. The scores of anxiety and depression in the study group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Maslow's hierarchical nursing model is more effective than the conventional nursing model in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. The blood sugar index of patients is improved better. Its quality of life is improved significantly compared with the conventional nursing. Negative emotions are also under strong control. It is worthy of active promotion and application in clinical nursing.