Introduction: the number of Brazilians with diabetes mellitus (DM) will nearly double over the next 20 years. Thus, it is important to promote life habits that prevent DM and its aggravations. To achieve these goals, identifying similarities and differences in eating habits of individuals with and without DM can help understanding how to deal with the disease, facilitating strategies for the development of adequate nutritional intervention, and understanding the relationship between diet and disease control. Objective: to verify that there are differences in feeding profiles of individuals with or without DM, within the framework of basic attention to health. Methodology: this was a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted in partnership between the UFMG and the Belo Horizonte city hall. Data were collected on health conditions, eating habits, impression about own feeding, guidelines on healthy living habits, and which professional provided this information. Results: 388 users participated in this study being 47 DM patients. Similar food consumption was observed among individuals, regardless of the occurrence of DM. The doctor was recognized as the sole provider of guidelines by most individuals. In addition, approximately 70% of DM patients consider their feeding habits healthy. Conclusion: there are similarities in feeding consumption profiles regardless of DM. Thus, a challenge emerges because there is a need for better actions guiding these patients about healthy living habits, which must be constant, comprehensive, and easy to understand.