 i. Increases the activities of muscle NO synthase, IRS-1, PI-3 kinase, PI3-kinase associated with IRS-1 andor MAP-kinase ii. Improves brachial arterial endothelial function In addition, we will determine whether 6 months of pioglitazone therapy improves abnormal cardiovascular disease risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients by documenting the effects of the drug on plasma lipoprotein profile and on circulating levels of markers of hypercoagulability, inflammatory and endothelial damage. 