Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus suffer from accelerated coronary artery disease. We will assess the effects of exercise training on coronary endothelial function, vascular structure, and inflammation both in serum and skeletal muscle biopsies, as well as expression of diabetes candidate genes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• written informed consent
• preserved left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ 50%)
• a physical work capacity ≥ 50 W
• at least one significant coronary stenosis > 50%, whereas either the left anterior descending (LAD) or circumflex artery (RCX) has to be free from disease or stenoses ≤ 25% for the assessment of intracoronary flow measurements

Exclusion Criteria:

• diseases further affecting endothelial function
• untreated hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 160 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure of > 90 mm Hg)
• cigarette smoking during the previous six months
• LDL-cholesterol > 4.3 mmol/l
• ventricular tachyarrhythmias
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• severe renal or hepatic dysfunction
• valvular heart disease
• myocardial infarction within the previous 4 weeks