Oxidative stress promotes atherogenesis in diabetes. The aim of our study was to assess if there is increased lipid peroxidation and/or antioxidant depletion in diabetic patients and to establish whether these processes are interrelated and correlated with glycemic control. In 135 patients with type 2 diabetes and 64 non‑diabetic controls we determined lipid peroxidation products in plasma (LPO), serum total antioxidants (TAS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) fructosamine, glucose, lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol) and apolipoproteins A‑I and B. LPO (sum of malondialdehyde and 4‑hydroxynonenal) were significantly elevated in diabetics (1.34 ±0.51vs 1.02 ±0.37 µmol/L; p <0.001). Serum total antioxidant status (TAS) remained unchanged in diabetes. Neither LPO nor TAS was correlated with glycated hemoglobin HbA_1c, fructosamine, and fasting glucose. No correlation was observed between LPO and TAS. HDL‑cholesterol and apolipoprotein A‑I were decreased in diabetics. Our results showed increased lipid peroxidation in type 2 diabetes without measurable antioxidants depletion and without association with glycemic control. Furthermore, the results suggest that peroxidation and glycation may operate independently as atherosclerosis promoters in diabetes.