OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the health related quality of life (HRQoL) in Polish patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and in matched sample from the general population. METHODS: Data on HRQoL came from two non-interventional studies: prospective study of patients with T2D and EQ-5D Polish general population norms study. Analysis of HRQoL was conducted in four separate age groups: 32–44, 45–54, 55–64 and above 65 years. We analyzed: an subjective and objective assessment of HRQoL (EQ VAS and EQ-5D index) and the presence of restrictions within five dimensions of the EQ-5D descriptive part.  RESULTS: 274 patients with T2D and 214 representatives from population norms study, were included. EQ VAS was systematically lower in diabetic patients compared to the general population, and decreased with age (68.2 vs 83.9, 62.4 vs 79.2; 54.9 vs 78.1, 50.2 versus 69.8 in consecutive age groups). A similar relationship was observed with EQ-5D index. The largest mean differences were observed among subjects aged 55-64 years (EQ VAS: 23.2, EQ-5D index: 0.085). In three domains: self-care, usual activities and anxiety/depression, patients with diabetes above 45 years of age, reported significantly more problems than respondents from the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Both subjective and objective HRQoL in patients with T2D is lower than in respondents of similar age from the general population. Compared with type 2 diabetic populations from other countries, Polish patients characterize by a relatively high HRQoL objective assessment and very low subjective assessment.