Aim To study effects of acupuncture on atherosclerosis in the model type 2 diabetic rats. Methods The model of type 2 diabetic rats was made and divided into three groups at random: the diabetic rats without treatment, the diabetic rats with acupuncture-treatment and the normal rats. 40 days later, the blood samples were collected to exam. With the help of microscope, we observed how atherosclerosis occurred and examed expression of inflammatory factors in the blood and artery walls. Results (1)The fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting plasma insulin (FINS) and HomaIR for the groups of diabetic rats without treatment, the diabetic rats with acupuncture-treatment and the normals have been down, while HBCI has raised (P<0.01,P<0.05) in turn. (2)Although plasma triglycerides (TG), the total cholesterol (TC), the Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), free fatty acid(FFA), nitric oxide(NO), TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, PAI-1 of the diabetic rats with acupuncture-treatment were obviously lower than that of the diabetic rats without treatment,these datas had no differences between the diabetic rats with acupuncture-treatment and the normal controls. The high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) of the diabetic rats with acupuncture-treatment is obviously higher than that of the diabetic rats without treatment. (3)The expression of TNF-α, IL-6 in the artery walls of the diabetic rats without treatment were much more higher than the diabetic rats with acupuncture-treated and the normal controls(P<0.01). But the datas of the diabetic rats with acupuncture-treatment had no statistical difference in comparison with the normal controls(P>0.05). (5)With the help of microscope, the formation of artery fatty streak-lesions and vaculation cells, transformation and transference of smooth muscle cell as well as the formation of fibrous caps in the artery walls of the diabetic rats without treatment could be observed. While endothelial cell contraction and fibroelastosis could be only seen in the artery walls of the diabetic rats with acupuncture-treatment. Conclusions (1)Inflammation is one of the factors that advanced the development of artheroscierosis(2)The acupuncture may improve diabetes atherosclerosis obviously,its mecha-nism is possibly associated with the decreacing of inflammation and the nitric oxide, the glycerin, the low density lipoprotein, the free fatty acids,insulin.