BACKGROUND The prevalence of chronic complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is higher in black patients. The reason for this finding is still unknown. The objective of this study was to analyze the micro and macrovascular risk factor profile of type 2 DM patients without advanced diabetic nephropathy according to ethnicity. METHODS A cross-sectional multicentric regional study was conducted evaluating 780 patients. All patients were submitted to clinical and laboratory evaluation. Ethnicity was self-reported as white (n = 585) or black (n = 195). RESULTS Black patients had lower triglycerides [115 (35-892) vs. 152 (34-1236) mg/dl; P <0.001] and higher HDL-cholesterol levels than whites (48.3 +/- 13.5 vs. 44.8 +/- 12.1 mg/dl; P = 0.002).White and black patients did not differ regarding fasting plasma glucose, A1c test, total and LDL cholesterol, blood pressure levels, insulin and HOMA-IR. There were no differences between groups regarding medication in use (statin: 18.5 vs. 19.3%, P = 1.000; fibrates: 1.5 vs. 0.7%, P = 0.680; angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors: 39.5 vs. 43.8%, P = 0.375; acetylsalicylic acid: 29.9 vs. 27.7%, P = 0.673). CONCLUSIONS There were no differences in the prevalence of the classic micro and macrovascular risk factors between ethnic groups. The study of non-conventional risk factors and genetic factors is essential to understand determinants of the worst outcomes presented by the African-Brazilian population.