Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes is associated with a marked increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease. Before overt cardiovascular disease occurs, impairment of vascular endothelial function is detectable. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in patients with type 2 diabetes, indicating that diabetes is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Recently, formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been linked to diabetes. These heterogeneous group of highly reactive compounds interact with NO and thereby inhibit vasodilation caused by NO. Formation of ROS is therefore thought to be an important mechanism by which type 2 diabetes induces endothelial dysfunction. α-Lipoic acid, which has been used for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy, was shown to have antioxidant capacities in vitro and animal experiments. Short term treatment with intraarterial α-lipoic acid was shown to improve endothelium dependent vasodilation in type 2 diabetics. However, to date, no data exists about the long term effcts of α-lipoic acid on vascular function in type 2 diabetics. In the present study, endothelium dependent vasodilation will be induced by administration of acetylcholine (ACh). To ascertain whether the vascular effects, if any, of α-lipoic acid are limited to the endothelium, endothelium independent vasodilation will also be assessed by administration of glyceroltrinitrate (GTN).