Previous studies have shown that diabetes, as a systemic metabolic disease, is closely related to the prognosis of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF)surgery, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. Although relevant literatures suggest that patients with diabetes have a high incidence of postoperative complications after PLIF, patients with diabetes can obtain good surgical efficacy by effectively controlling perioperative blood glucose, ensuring blood glucose stability and evaluating patients' physical condition. The purpose of this article is to summarize the systemic, perioperative and long-term complications of PLIF in diabetes patients by reviewing previous articles, to explore and improve the indicators for predicting postoperative complications in diabetes patients, and to analyze the mechanisms by which diabetes affects prognosis, with the aim of further evaluating the effectiveness and safety of PLIF surgery and providing theoretical guidance for clinical diagnosis and treatment.