Diapause in insects is a strategy to survive severe environmental conditions. The utilization, accumulation and transformation of nutrients can affect diapause. During diapause, a series of physiological and biochemical changes happen in vivo, including the accumulation and verification of endogenous nutrients, such as lipids, carbohydrates, and amino acids, which both provide the energy required for insects to survive harsh environmental conditions and enable post-diapause development. Exogenous nutrients also have comprehensive effects on diapause. The abundance, quality and kinds of exogenous nutrients can be transferred via a “Food-Host-Natural enemy” tritrophic system, influencing the accumulation and transformation of endogenous nutrients, the cold hardiness of diapausing insects, the diapause rate, and other variables. The mechanisms underlying nutrient regulation in diapausing insects are complicated, and include the insulin signaling pathway-forkhead transfer factor and adipokinetic hormones which play important roles in nutrient regulation. Understanding the function of these mechanisms requires further research.