Objective To explore the occurrence rate and its risk factors of ingrown toenails in diabetic patients, so as to provide a reference for developing targeted preventive nursing interventions. Methods From January to June 2024, a total of 310 diabetic patients were conveniently selected from a tertiary hospital in Shanghai. A questionnaire on the risk factors of occurrence of ingrown toenails was used to collect relevant data from the participants, then the risk factors were screened by binary logistic regression analysis. Results The participants′ occurrence rate of ingrown toenails was 19.03%; regression analysis showed that, age ≥60 years, BMI ≥24.0 kg/m2, increased fasting glucose, peripheral vascular disease, perinail trauma, onychomycosis, incorrect toenail trimming, and inappropriate footwear were risk factors for the development of ingrown toenails in diabetic patients (all P<0.05). Conclusion The occurrence rate of ingrown toenails in diabetic patients is high. It is suggested to strengthen the attention of high-risk patients and develop preventive care interventions according to the risk factors,so as to reduce the incidence of ingrown toenails in diabetic patients.