Objective_ To investigate the effect of resting heart rate on the progression to diabetes in impaired glucose regulation patients. Methods A total of 638 patients with impaired glucose regulation, from January 2011 to December 2012 in our endocrinology clinic, were selected for the study. According to the resting heart rate, patients were divided into four groups:<66 beat/min group, 66 to 69 beat/min group, 70 to 75 beat/min group, and>75 beat/min groups. All patients'baseline data were collected. The incidences of diabetes in different resting heart rate groups were compared, and the relationship between resting heart rate and the progression to diabetes was estimated using multiple regression analysis. Results In 704 patients with impaired glucose regulation, 636 patients have been completed 2 years follow-up, or reached the end of follow-up ( diagnosed as diabetes ) , the follow-up rate was 90. 34%. During two years follow-up, the incidence of diabetes of<66 beat/min group, 66 to 69 beat/min group, 70 to 75 beat/min group, and>75 beat/min group were 16. 2%, 19. 4%, 25. 0%, and 33. 0%, respectivlely. And the Cochran Armitage trend test showed that χ2 =11. 109, P=0. 001, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0. 05). According to blood glucose monitoring, the 636 patients with impaired glucose regulation were divided into impaired fasting glucose group, impaired glucose tolerance group and impaired fasting glucose combined with impaired glucose tolerance group:the Cochran Armitage trend test showed that, with the resting heart rate accelerating, the incidence of diabetes increased. The incidence of diabetes in impaired fasting glucose combined with impaired glucose tolerance group was higher than that of impaired fasting glucose group and impaired glucose tolerance group ( P=0. 062, 0. 113). The average resting heart rate in 68 impaired glucose regulation patients progressed to diabetes was (79.8±8.3)beat/min,andin568non-diabetescases,itwas(74.5±7.2)beat/min(t=-5.043,P<0.01). With the use of patients progressing to diabetes as the dependent variable, different resting heart rate group as independent variables, and resting heart rate<66 beat/min group as a reference, the logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of the progression to diabetes increased with the resting heart rate levels. Conclusion Higher resting heart rate is linked to higher risk of diabetes in patients with impaired glucose regulation.