Abstract: Objective To explore the application effect of Orem self-care mode in nursing care of elderly patients with diabetes. Methods Sixty-four elderly patients with diabetes treated in department of geriatrics of the first affiliated hospital of USTC from December 2017 to September 2018 were selected as samples. The total cases were divided into observation group and control group according to the random digital table method, with 32 cases in each group. The observation group received Orem self-care nursing intervention, while the control group only received routine nursing. The quality of life and self-care ability of the two groups before and after intervention were compared based on Adjusted Diabetes-specific Quality Of Life Scale (A-DQOL) and Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL). Results After Orem self-care mode nursing intervention, the A-DQOL grades of the observation group and the control group were (66.11±4.48) and (80.88±4.38), respectively. The difference was statistically significant(t=-13.336, P<0.05); the Barthel grades of the observation group and the control group were (83.24±3.65) and (72.61±3.35), respectively. The difference was statistically significant (t=12.137, P<0.05); The knowledge awareness rate about diabetes and health behavior rate in the observation group were better than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion The application of Orem self-care mode can significantly improve the survival quality, self-care ability and cognitive ability of patients with disease knowledge, and promote patients to choose a healthier behavior pattern, which is conducive to blood sugar control and prognosis rehabilitation.