【Objective】 To evaluate and compare the curative effect between hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) on end stage diabetic nephropathy in elderly patients. 【Methods】 16 patients with diabetic nephropathy treated with HD and 11 patients treated with CAPD were compared. Before and after dialysis, the blood biochemical index, survival rate, death cause and major complication after dialysis in the two groups were observed. 【Results】 The mortality rates of HD and CAPD were not significantly different in the first two years. But mortality of PD increased rapidly after two years of treatment. The levels of blood triglycerides in CAPD patients were higher than that in HD patients, while the concentration of serum albumin was lower that of than that of HD patients significantly. 【Conclusion】 In diabetic patients with renal failure CAPD as a choice to replace the kidney function was not superior to HD, especially after two years of CAPD treatment. A strict long-term and extensive survey is needed to compare these two methods.