Abstract: Background Abnormal glucose metabolism may be involved in the development of heart failure. Angiotensin receptor blockade has been reported to slow the progress of heart failure. Objective To investigate the significance of a decrease in GLUT4 levels in the diabetic heart and the preventive effect of Irbesartan. Methods Twenty-seven male Wistar rats （age: 8 weeks, weight: 250-300 g）were randomly divided into three groups: group A（normal rats）, group B（the diabetic models）, group C （the diabetic models with Irbesartan intervention）. The diabetic models were obtained by STZ （50 mg/kg） IP. When the diabetic models were established, irbesartan （50 mg/kg·d ） was administered by gavage for 11 weeks. The alteration in GLUT4 in myocardial tissue （measured by immunohistochemistry） and plasma glucose were measured before 48 hours and 11 weeks after the models were made. Results （1） GLUT4 in myocardium was decreased apparently at 11 weeks after operation （208.89±10.96 vs143.56±16.99） grey value of immunochemistry（P＜0.01） in group B suggesting GLUT4 was related with the development of diabetes. On the contrary , little changes in GLUT4 was found in group A and C. （2）Plasma glucose:plasma glucose was increased at 48 hours and 11 weeks after the operation in group B （16.89 ±2.46,18.45±2.60 vs. 3.80±1.09）mmol/L（P＜0.01 both）. Whereas, plasma glucose increased at 48 hours in group C but was likely recovered at 11 weeks after irbesatan treatment （18.32±4.06 vs 15.84±2.60）mmol/L（P＞0.05）. Conclusion The decrease of GLUT4 in diabetic myocardial tissue may be involved in the formation of diabetic cardiomjyopathy. Irbesartan up-regulated the expression of GLUT4 in diabetic myocardial tissue.