The aim of this study was to describe self-perceived health and symptoms of elderly persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and to explore whether there are special symptoms associated with undiagnosed DM or IGT. The study population consisted of community-living northern Finnish persons aged 70 years of over (n=379). Poor self-perceived health and high number of symptoms were most common among previously diagnosed diabetic persons. Undiagnosed diabetes and especially IGT did not predict poorer self-perceived health or higher number of symptoms compared with non-diabetic status. We conclude that in older subjects neither undiagnosed diabetes nor IGT can be traced by worsened health perceptions or on the basis of symptoms.