OBJECTIVES: To update the characteristics of Chinese Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients and describe their blood glucose control. METHODS: Adelphi Disease Specific Programme (DSP), a cross-sectional study, collected comprehensive data on Chinese T2DM patients in two waves: Wave I [W1] in year 2008 and Wave 2 [W2] in 2011-12.  The patients aged ≥18 years were diagnosed and managed by qualified internists, diabetologists or endocrinologist in 9 major cities. Chi-square test and Student t test were used for testing the differences between waves. RESULTS: In contrast with W1 (n=1648), W2 patients (n=2059) were younger (mean: 56.3 vs. 57.7 years, P<0.001), more physically active (83% active or very active vs. 18%, P<0.001), had fewer comorbidities and complications (macrovascular diseases: 10.8% vs. 19.2%; peripheral vascular diseases: 0.8% vs. 4.0%; dyslipidemia: 22.4% vs. 42.2%;  impaired vision: 2.3% vs. 5.6%; neuropathy: 1.4% vs. 7.0%; nephropathy: 1.7% vs. 4.7%,  all Ps<0.0001 ), and started anti-diabetic medication (ADM) earlier (40 days of trying to manage lifestyle alone prior to initiating ADM vs. 64 days, P<0.001). Of the insulin users, more patients in W2 than W1 were on basal insulin (28.2% vs. 12.1%, P<0.05), and fewer on biphasic insulin/mixtures (51.1% vs. 59.4%, P<0.05).  Of the non-insulin ADM users, biguanides and sulfonylureas were the most commonly used agents. 2.4% and 4.2% of the patients were on GLP-1 inhibitors and DPP-4 in W2.  W1 and W2 had the same mean of HbA1C% (7.4%). 36.6% of all the patients had HbA1C% <7%. CONCLUSIONS: The data may suggest that diabetes awareness increased, and clinical diagnosis and medical intervention were initiated earlier for T2DM from 2008 to 2011-12 in China. More insulin users were treated with basal insulin and some started GLP-1 inhibitors and DPP-4. However, blood glucose control for preventing further development of complications remained to be improved.