Aim To investigate the plasma expression of long non-coding RNA MALAT1 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its clinical significance. Methods A total of 270 patients treated were divided into 2 groups:T2DM group (n=136) and control group (n=134). Expression levels of plasma MALAT1 were measured by qRT-PCR; then the relationship was analyzed in relevant patients between MALAT1 and clinical features. Results Compared with the control group, plasma MALAT1 expression was increased in T2DM group (P<0.05). Univariate Logistic regression analysis found that plasma MALAT1, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, glycosylated serum protein, lipid levels, and cystatin C (CysC) were all associated with diabetes (P<0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that plasma MALAT1 expression was independently associated with diabetes (P<0.05), which was 1.84 times that of the control group. Conclusion T2DM patients had obviously increased plasma level of MALAT1; MALAT1 was independently related to T2DM occurrence.