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Abstract Aim To assess the experience with health care among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and to evaluate patients’ demographic variables and healthcare‐related characteristics which may affect their experience. Methods A cross‐sectional survey was delivered to T2DM adults. Patient experiences were assessed with the ‘Instrument for Evaluation of the Experience of Chronic Patients’ (IEXPAC) questionnaire, a validated 12‐item survey, which describes patient experience within the last 6 months (items 1–11) and hospitalization in the last 3 years (item 12), with possible scores ranging from 0 (worst) to 10 (best experience). Results A total of 451 T2DM patients responded to the survey (response rate 72.3%; mean age 69.5 ± 10.1 years, 67.8% men). The mean overall IEXPAC score was 5.92 ± 1.80. Mean scores were higher for productive interactions (7.92 ± 2.15) and self‐management (7.08 ± 2.27) than for new relational model (1.72 ± 2.01). Only 32.8% of patients who had been hospitalized in the past 3 years reported having received a follow‐up call or visit after discharge. Multivariate analyses identified that regular follow‐up by the same physician and follow‐up by a nurse were associated with a better patient experience. Continuity of healthcare score was higher only in those patients requiring help from others. Conclusions The areas of T2DM care which may need to be addressed to ensure better patient experience are use of the Internet, new technologies and social resources for patient information and interaction with healthcare professionals, closer follow‐up after hospitalization, and a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach with regular follow‐up by the same physician and a nurse.