Back ground: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic progressive metabolic disorder, most common non-communicable disease globally.The global prevalence of diabetes among adults over 18 years of age rose from 4.7% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014. In 2016, diabetes was the direct cause of 1.6 million deaths. Objectives: To assess the self-care practices among elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to know the factors influencing it. Methodology: A community based crosssectional study was conducted by

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... cting elderly through systematic random sampling; socio-demographic details and self-care practices were assessed by Summary Diabetes Self-Care Activities questionnaire (SDSCA).Data were entered in excel,descriptive statistics and chi-square were calculated.Results:177 elderly diabetics participated in the study. A majority of 49.71% were in the age group of 69-70years. 58.76% were females, 40.11% were literates, and 55.93% resided in joint families. The self-care practices were computed based on Summary Diabetes Self-Care Activities questionnaire (SDSCA) 72.88% had good and poor self-care practices.Significant factors were 60-69 years age group, male gender, literates and duration of diabetes (1-5years) (p<0.05).Conclusion: Diabetes and related complications impose a high-burden of catastrophic economic costs by increasing out of pocket expenditure.Self-care in diabetes plays a pivotal role in managing the disease, which has to be practiced more efficiently at individual level with the support from family and community so as to promote healthy ageing amid co-morbidities.