['To assess the impact of therapeutic strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes.', 'Five-hundred patients with type 2 diabetes were studied, using retrospective case note analysis in 1997 (followed by a unit policy targeting vascular risk) and again in 2001.', 'The mean BP of the hypertensive patients was unchanged, 151/83 +/- 23/12 mmHg (1997) and 149/84 +/- 19.1/9.8 mmHg (P=0.2) (2001) (despite increase in patients receiving 23 antihypertensives (4.2% to 18.0%, P<0.01). The mean cholesterol improved from 5.34 +/- 1.1 mmol/L to 4.72 +/- 0.94 mmol/L (P<0.01). 2.9% compared with 44.6% (P<0.01) of hypercholesterolaemic patients, achieved target cholesterol. Antiplatelet therapy increased from 27.6% to 61.2% (P<0.01). Reduced mean HbA1c, 7.91 +/- 1.61% to 7.12 +/- 1.41% (P<0.01).'] Are lipid lowering targets easier to attain than those for treatment of hypertension in type 2 diabetes?