Introduction: Malnutrition is a problem of high significance in hospitalized patients and it has an impact in patient stay and risk of infections. Diabetic patients represent an important percentage of hospitalized population. VIDA study aims to determine the prevalence of malnutrition in elderly diabetic patients admitted to Spanish hospitals. Aim: The aim of this study is to describe the population of VIDA study including biochemical and anthropometric parameters on admission. Methods: Cross sectional, multicentre study of 1098 diabetic patients above 65 years of age. 35 medical centers were included. Results: Mean age was 78 SD 7.1 years. The most common diagnosis at admission was respiratory tract infection. The duration of diabetes disease was above ten years in 51.2% and 33.09% was under insulin treatment. At admission, 21.22% was malnourished and 39.07% was at risk of malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition was higher in women (p < 0.0002). Discussion: VIDA study is the first Spanish multicentre study describing nutritional status of a large sample of elderly inpatients with diabetes mellitus. 21.22% of the 1,098 patients were malnourished. This result depends on age and sex, and can increase mortality rate. Análisis del perfil de los pacientes ancianos diabéticos y hospitalizados que participaron en el estudio VIDA