Objective To investigate characteristics of eating behavior change in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods The grounded theory methodology was used.Nineteen patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were interviewed.Then the records were transcribed and analyzed with open coding,axial coding and selective coding according to the grounded theory put forward by Strass and Corbin,to identify the categories and core category.Results The characteristics of eating behavior change in patients with type 2 diabetes included:searching information for diabetes diet,four types of diabetes diet,finding pleasure in a diabetes diet.Conclusion Patients with diabetes should pay attention to the source of dietary information and should not blindly try;patients who obtained the diet information had a choice between diet control and abandonment;the ability to enjoy a free diet in a diabetic diet will help improve patients' compliance with the diet.Medical staff should understand the characteristics of eating behavior change to promote early identification of behavior and the correct guidance for patients with diabetes.