Although cardiovascular disease continues to be the major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetes, the understanding that multiple risk factor intervention is the cornerstone of diabetes management is leading to significant benefits for patients. Aggressive goal setting for modifiable cardiovascular risk factors that cluster in patients with diabetes, such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and a procoagulant state, and judicious selection of efficacious therapies have been shown to produce significant reductions in cardiovascular events, and in some cases mortality, in controlled clinical trials. Although effective control of hyperglycemia per se has at most modest impact, the choice and application of antihyperglycemic therapies add to the benefit. In addition, newer agents and early intervention in prediabetic and diabetic individuals hold promise for even greater success in the prevention of this important complication of diabetes.