Objective In this study， the reliability and validity of Geriatric Depression Scale（ GDS） and Hamilton Depression Scale（ HAMD） in elderly diabetes are compared， aiming to explore a suitable scale for depression evaluation in elderly diabetes. Methods A total of 88 elderly patients with diabetes were selected and assisted to complete GDS-15 and HAMD-17. The evaluation results were analyzed in reliability， validity and the consistency of the evaluation result. Logistic multiple factor regression analysis was used to study the risk factors influencing the results of the two scales. Results The coefficient of Cronbach’s α of GDS-15（0.715） was higher than that of HAMD-17（0.674）. Logistic multiple factor regression analysis showed that the influencing factors of GDS-15 are the numbers of complications， medication adherence scores and HbA1c， while the influencing factors of HAMD-17 were medication adherence scores and sleep quality scores. Conclusions Both GDS-15 and HAMD-17 are effective tools in depression evaluation in elderly patients with diabetes. However， the items of GDS-15 are more concise and objective， and the internal consistency and validity are higher. GDS- 15 is more suitable for the depression evaluation in elderly patients with diabetes in clinical practice.