Autophagy is an intracellular catabolic system, which enables cells to capture cytoplasmic components for degradation within lysosomes. Autophagy is involved in development, differentiation and tissue remodeling in various organisms, and is also implicated in certain diseases. Recent studies demonstrate that autophagy is necessary to maintain architecture and function of pancreatic beta cells. Altered autophagy is also involved in pancreatic beta cell death. Whether autophagy plays a protective or harmful role in diabetes is still not clear. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge about the role of autophagy in pancreatic beta cell and diabetes.