Aim To investigate the associations between soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) with atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients(T2DM). Methods The levels of sICAM-1 and hs-CRP in T2DM with or without atherosclerosis and normal comtrols was determined,sICAM-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,hs-CRP was measured by immuoturbidimetric method.The carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) and carotid plaques were measured by ultrasound. Results The levels of sICAM-1 and hs-CRP in T2DM with or without atherosclerosis were higher than those in normal comtrols(p<0.01),and the levels of sICAM1 in T2DM with atherosclerosis were higher than that in T2DM without atherosclerosis(p<0.01). Conclusions sICAM-1 is a special risk factor for atherosclerosis in T2DM,but hs-CRP is not.