OBJECTIVES: To assess health utilities and examine factors affecting health utilities among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China. METHODS: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of T2DM patients in outpatient settings from October to December, 2011 in Beijing and Tianjin. Eligible patients were ≥18 years, had a diagnosis of T2DM ≥1 year and received ≥1 year anti-diabetic treatment. Health utility was measured using The Chinese version of EQ-5D. The EQ-5D index score and visual analog scale (VAS) score were calculated for all T2DM patients and subgroups defined by fasting blood glucose control (FBG<8 mmol/L) and complications. Multivariate linear regressions were conducted to assess factors associated with health utilities such as patient demographics, glucose control, complications, and lifestyle variables. RESULTS: A total of 588 patients were included with 54.9% female, mean age of 63.3 years and mean disease duration of 11.3 years. About 64.5% patients had FBG control. Most patients (94.9%) had ≥1 complication: macrovascular complications (50.9%), retinopathy (59.1%), nephropathy (28.6%), neuropathy (52.3%). Mean EQ-5D and VAS scores for all patients were 0.78 and 64, respectively. Mean EQ-5D score was higher among patients with FBG control versus those without (0.80 vs. 0.75, p=0.003). Patients with macrovascular complications, retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy had significantly lower EQ-5D score compared to those without the corresponding complications (0.73 vs. 0.82, 0.75 vs. 0.83, 0.74 vs. 0.80, and 0.73 vs. 0.84, respectively; all P<0.001). Similar results were observed for EQ-VAS in these comparisons. Macrovascular complications and some microvascular complications (e.g., nephropathy and neuropathy) were negatively associated with health utilities while education and exercise were positively associated with health utilities. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the general Chinese population (EQ-VAS of 80), patients with T2DM have impaired quality of life. Factors affecting health utilities may include complications, education and exercise.