The study investigated the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in elderly patients using network analysis and a computer algorithm. The research included patients from a hospital in China from March to July 2024, with data collected using a standardized symptom checklist. The most common symptoms were thirst and dry mouth (71.69%), general fatigue (70.78%) and foamy urine (69.58%). According to the severity of symptom burden, general fatigue dominated (score 2.48), followed by asthenia (2.42) and insomnia (2.39). A study identified general fatigue as the main symptom of type 2 diabetes in elderly patients. As sentinel symptoms (characteristic manifestations of specific groups of symptoms) excessive sleepiness, numbness of limbs, swelling of limbs and excessive thirst have been identified. The authors conclude by recommending that healthcare professionals use this knowledge to develop more accurate and effective measures to improve symptom management in older patients with type 2 diabetes.