Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing. Myocardial dysfunction may be a consequence of diabetic cardiomyopathy and it contributes to the poor prognosis of diabetic patients. Aim: evaluation of subclinical myocardial dysfunction in diabetic patients. Methods: Thirty patients with type 2 diabetes and thirty control subjects without clinical signs of coronary artery disease and with normal left ventricular function by standard 2D echocardiography, were investigated with DTI at rest and at peak stress echocardiography (DSE). Myocardial function was calculated as mean value from four basal left ventricular segments for the peak velocity at systole (Sm), early diastole (Em), atrial contraction (Am) and ratio E/A. Results: at rest diabetic patients had significant compromised Em (P