Abstract Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become a worldwide epidemic, which poses a great threat to the global healthcare system. Based on review of publications pertaining to T2DM health management in urban communities, this article focuses on the health management models of T2DM in foreign urban communities, including insurance companies and medical institutions, self-management plans, community management, community and home hybrid services, artificial intelligence + big data management, social media and online community management, precision health management, and proposes suggestions for T2DM health management in Chinese urban communities based on currently available national management models, including increasing the standardization of the management level, improving the supporting facilities of professional talents, mobilizing social forces to support, improving the scientific and technological level of management tools, strengthening the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine and exploring novel personalized models, so as to provide insights into promoting the sustainable development of T2DM health management in Chinese urban communities.