Diabetes mellitus is a global health crisis. It is associated with many disabling co-morbidities and could lead to premature cardiovascular disease and death. Chronic hyperglycaemia leads to many pathological changes that are atherogenic. Some studies have regarded diabetes mellitus as a coronary heart disease risk equivalent, especially patients with a long duration of disease. Diabetes mellitus is associated with other traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidaemia, which together they increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by many folds. There are several strategies to improve the cardiovascular outcomes among people with diabetes mellitus, including the following: 1) early intensive glycaemic control (UKPDS); 2) optimal treatment of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (STENO-2); and 3) use of novel glucose-lowering therapies (sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors or glucagon-like peptide 1 agonist) that have benefits on cardiovascular events or mortality.