The number of diabetics will increase almost 70% in developed countries during the next 20 years: peripheral arterial disease is a common and costly complication. The incidence of cardiovascular disease (mortality and morbidity) due to atherosclerosis, is higher among patients with diabetes than in those without diabetes. Intensive management of diabetes, including glycaemic control, treatment of hypertension and dyslipidemia, as well as nonpharmacological interventions, decreases both micro- and macrovascular complications. Aspirin and clopidogrel have less antiplatelet effect in patients with diabetes. Metformin therapy is considered a risk factor for lactic acidosis if not withdrawn 2 days before angiography, but this risk is extremely low in patients with normal renal function. Peri-operative hyperglycaemia and large fluctuations in plasma glucose increase postoperative mortality and morbidity and careful measures are required to minimise these effects.