Objectives - To describe mortality in a cohort of people with diabetes and to describe the causes of death. Method - For the Entred 2001 study, 10,000 adults residing in mainland France, enrolled in the general health insurance system, and receiving treatment for diabetes were randomly selected. In 2006, vital status data were obtained for 9,101 individuals, and causes of death were extracted. Results - Over 5 years, 1,388 people had died (15%), representing a rate of 32 per 1,000 person-years. The average age at death was 77 years. Diabetes was listed on 35% of death certificates, cardiovascular disease on 60%, and cancer on 31%. Ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and renal failure—which are complications of diabetes—were mentioned in 18%, 14%, and 8% of all certificates, respectively. For 270 certificates (20% of the total), one of these three diseases was reported without a concurrent mention of diabetes. Conclusion - Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among people with diabetes. Diabetes is mentioned in just over one-third of death certificates, but in 20% of certificates, it is not mentioned, presumably erroneously. (R.A.)