To evaluate if ALDH2 affects myocardial morphometric and functional anomalies in diabetes through any potential effect secondary to global metabolic alterations, we scrutinized whole body metabolism, including the respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and total physical activity as well as plasma levels of free fatty acid, insulin and glucose (fasting and postprandial) in control and diabetic mice. The gene discussed is ALDH2; the disease is diabetes mellitus.