Abstract: Objective To analyze the effect of preoperative diabetes mellitus (DM) on function recovery of grafted kidney. Methods Clinical data about 1061 patients who underwent kidney transplantation in our center from 2008 to 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into DM group (n=116) and non-DM group (n=945). The delayed function recovery and the function recovery time of grafted kidney were compared between the two groups. Results The incidence of delayed function recovery of grafted kidney was 21.6% and 14.1%, respectively, in DM group and non-DM group (P=0.03). The function recovery time of grafted kidney was 21.28±18.95 d and 16.72±14.08 d, respectively, in DM group and non-DM group (P=0.04). The function loss rate of grafted kidney was 12% and 8.3%, respectively, in DM group and non-DM group (P=0.83). Conclusion Preoperative DM does not increase the incidence of acute renal tubule necrosis, drug toxicity to kidney, function loss of grafted kidney, and can promote the function recovery of grafted kidney if the blood glucose level is well controlled in peri-operative period.