ObjectiveTo discuss the effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) on gastrointestinal hormone changes before and after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) operation. MethodsThe clinical data of 143 patients with HCC treated in this hospital from April 2007 to Febuary 2010 were analyzed, which 43 patients with DM (DM group) and 100 patients without DM (NDM group). Gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) levels were measured on day 3 before operation and on day 1, 2, and 7 after operation. Results① The blood MTL levels decreased and GAS levels increased on day 1, 2, and 7 after operation as compared with the levels before operation (all Plt;0.05). ② The blood MTL level and GAS level before operation in the DM group was higher than that in the NDM group (Plt;0.05), MTL level decreased while GAS level increased more significantly on day 1, 2, and 7 after operation (Plt;0.05). ③ The first anus exhausting time of patients with NDM was much earlier than that with DM (Plt;0.05). ④ The first anus exhausting time with DM over 10 years and fasting plasma glucose over 10 mmo1/L was obviously extended (Plt;0.05). ConclusionDM affectes GAS and MTL level changes after HCC operation, recovery of gastrointestinal function would be delayed if patients with long course of DM and poor control of plasma glucose.