Aim To investigate the pathology characteristic of femoral atherosclerosis in elder diabetes patients. Methods 8 elder diabete autopsy cases and 8 control cases were selected respectively in our hospital. Serial sections of femoral artery of all cases were taken. All the arteries were examined, and parts of the segments were selected for immunohistochemical staining. Three markers against α-smooth muscle actin, CD68, and bax were performed. Results Compared with control cases, the femoral atherosclerosis was more serious and the calcify range was wider in diabete patients; there were less smooth muscle cells and more macrophage in femoral atherosclerotic plaques, and the expression of bax in macrophages was stonger, the expression of bax in smooth muscle cell was weaker. Conclusions Diabete may accelerate the occurrence and development of femoral atherosclerosis.