The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the level of stress and adherence to treatment in type 2 diabetic patients in a public health institution in Xalapa-Veracruz, using the Perceived Stress Scale 14 and Morisky Green 8 instruments, comparing age and sex with the variables stress and adherence to treatment. This was a prospective descriptive study in which 44 persons participated voluntarily. Analysis of results. The data showed a higher level of therapeutic adherence in men and a lower or almost null level of stress; the opposite was the case in women, who showed a medium and low level of therapeutic adherence and a level of stress in the categories once in a while and often. Conclusions. The data suggest further studies on these relationships, since it seems that the female population shows low adherence to treatment and frequent levels of stress as risk factors.