Frailty and cognitive impairment are two major risk factors for adverse outcomes in elderly patients with diabetes. In the elderly, physical frailty and cognitive impairment frequently coexist, and have similar pathophysiological pathways, so the new concept of " cognitive debilitation” has been proposed. Physical frailty and cognitive impairment could accelerate the decline of function among elderly diabetic patients, and seriously affect their quality of life. Early identification and appropriate intervention of cognitive frailty may improve the adverse outcomes of elderly patients with diabetes. This article reviews the research progress of cognitive frailty and senile diabetes.