OBJECTIVES Adherence to treatment plan and lifestyle advice is crucial for good health outcomes in diabetic patients. Given that Greece in the last years faces an unprecedented economic crisis which affects all sectors of economic and social life, the aim of the present study was to examine whether recession, austerity measures and implemented health policies had an impact on patient adherence to treatment in Diabetes type 2 (dt2) in Greece.  METHODS A questionnaire was developed for the purpose of the study. Only Physicians who monitor patients with dt2 (general practitioners (GPs), diabetologists and endocrinologists) were invited to participate in the study and complete the online version of a purpose-made questionnaire during a specified time period. Physicians were recruited through their national associations. The study took place between April and May 2014.  RESULTS Of the 176 physicians completing the questionnaire, 68.7% were men. Mean age was 47.8 years. The majority were internists (38.3%) and GPs (32,7%). Physicians estimated that during the previous year 22.9% of their patients had to quit or modify their treatment plan due to economic reasons. A somewhat higher percentage (26.9%) was found regarding the modification of the dietary habits during the previous year due to economic reasons which led to negative health outcomes. According to the participating physicians the main reasons for which patients modified or quitted their treatment were the higher copayments for pharmaceuticals, loss of insurance coverage and barriers of access to a physician in order to prescribe their medicines. CONCLUSIONS Recession and recent health policies had a negative impact on patients’ adherence to treatment leading to poor adherence almost a quarter of patients with dt2, based on the experience of physicians. Equally critical is the fact that patients were forced to modify their dietary habits.