The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-month treatment with metformin alone and in combination with glimepiride on arterial elasticity, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and hs-CRP) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ra, IL-2) in black T2DM patients. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.