The aim was to estimate and illustrate the weight history of 1,320 newly diagnosed diabetic patients according to patient characteristics at diagnosis. The median recalled weight gain from age 20 to diabetes diagnosis at a median age of 65.3 years was 14.7 kg. The average weight gain from 10 years prior to diabetes diagnosis until diagnosis, however, was only 1 kg and varied with e.g. age, sex, diagnostic plasma glucose, and presence of diabetic retinopathy. The findings contribute to the evidence basis of general practitioners' weight advice both before and after diabetes diagnosis.