In the last two decades, data has accumulated to convince the medical community that treating diabetes does not mean treating only glycaemia, but all of the condition’s attending cardiovascular risk factors as well. This multi-pronged approach acquires particular urgency in type 2 diabetes, but is no less important in type 1 diabetes as well. Both epidemiological and prospective data show that reducing the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral vascular disease requires the treatment of, not only glycemia, but also treating other cardiovascular risk factors.