Background: Dietary behavior is the cornerstone of patients with poorly controlled type 2 DM. This condition becomes a common problem in patients with type 2 DM. Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe dietary behavior in Muslim patients with poorly controlled type 2 DM in a community setting, in Indonesia. Methods: A quantitative descriptive study to describe the dietary behavior of 70 patients with poorly controlled type 2 DM who met the inclusion criteria. These patients were selected by using random sampling assignment from Kebunsari Public Health Center areas in Polewali Mandar Sub-District, West Sulawesi, Indonesia. Dietary behavior was measured by using the Dietary Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ). The DBQ was modified from a previous study with adequate reliability (Chronbach__ampersandsignrsquo;s alpha was .82). Descriptive statistics were used in terms of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation to describe patient__ampersandsignrsquo;s characteristics and dietary behavior in this study. Result: Subjects who participated in this study were middle aged with an average 53.91 years. More than half of subjects in this study were female (74.3%) who had been studied in the elementary level (60.0%). The majority of the patients had no experience of any previous educational program or counseling program related to dietary behaviors (85.7%). The result showed a moderate level of dietary behavior in patients with poorly controlled type 2 DM. Discussion: Dietary behavior becomes a common issues in patients with poorly controlled type 2 DM. Several factors contributed patients performing the dietary behavior including unstructured educational program in the public health center, selfcommitment, belief and perception, and local culture. Conclusion: The total level of dietary behavior in patients with poorly controlled type 2 DM was moderate level. Two subscale of dietary behaviors including selecting a healthy diet and arranging a meal plan were classified as a moderate lavel, whereas recognizing the amount of food calories, and managing dietary behaviors challenges were a low level. Recommendation: Further research is needed to establish an intervention approach related to dietary behaviors for improving the dietary behaviors of the patients with poorly controlled type 2 DM.