Introduction and objective:
Although type 1 and type 2 diabetes differ significantly in various aspects, including etiology, treatment and medical guidelines, does the type of disease influence the level of management? The aim of the study is to identify the differences in BMI, food frequency intake, and levels of physical activity between individuals with different types of diabetes, and to assess the link between dietary factors and HbA1c levels.

Material and methods:
The study included 78 patients (mean age 42.8 ± 18.2 years), with T1D (n= 49) or T2D (n= 29). Patients were categorized also into two groups: with higher level of HbA1c (> 6.5%, n = 67) and normal level of HbA1c (<6.5% n = 11). The KomPAN questionnaire, supplemented with additional diabetes-related questions, were completed by each participant.

Results:
T1D was associated with younger age, lower BMI and worse dietary habits, compared to T2D. Higher dietary quality index scores were observed among women with T1D, compared to men, and lower consumption of meat and meat products was reported. Greater levels of physical activity were reported by patients with normal HbA1c. Higher HbA1c level (> 6.5%) was linked to consuming animal fats more than once daily and whole meal products less than once daily.

Conclusions:
Food frequency intake and diet quality may be dependent on the type of diabetes and gender. Appropriate HbA1c levels may be connected not only with proper dietary habits, but also with physical activity. The study, however, has significant limitations, including the heterogeneity of the groups; therefore, it is necessary for further research to be conducted on more homogenous populations.