Abstract: We examined the effects of dietary Japanese millet protein (JMP) and Korean foxtail millet protein (KFMP) on lipid metabolism and type 2 diabetes in rats and mice. When type 2 diabetic rats were fed with JMP for 20 days, plasma glucose levels lowered, whereas those of HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin rose significantly compared to the control group. Then when type 2 diabetic mice were fed with KFMP for 20 days, plasma levels of insulin lowered greatly, whereas those of HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin rose remarkably compared to control group. Considering the role of adiponectin, insulin and HDL-cholesterol in diabetes and atherosclerosis or obesity, it seemed likely that JMP and KFMP might improve insulin sensitivity and cholesterol metabolism through an increase in adiponectin concentrations. Therefore, these proteins might serve as another beneficial food component in obesity-related dis- eases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.