Chromium is an essential nutrient and participates in glucose and lipid metabolism in human beings and animals. The present study was conducted to assess the effects of chromium picolinate (Cr-pic) on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in type Ⅰ and Ⅱ diabetic rats. The experimental groups were type Ⅰ diabetic (streptozotocin-induced: 40㎎/㎏, i.p.) and type Ⅱdiabetic (Goto-Kakizaki rats) models. Each group was subdivided into control, low-dose and high-dose of Cr-pic treated groups. The Cr-pic was orally administered with Cr-pic (100 mg/kg for low dose group and 200㎎/㎏ for high dose group) for 4 weeks. And then we performed intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) and insulin sensitivity test (ITT). The glucose tolerance test was carried out by injection of glucose (2 g/㎏, i.p.). The peripheral insulin sensitivity test was conducted by injection of insulin (5 units/㎏, s.c.) and glucose. We performed determining of blood glucose concentration at 0, 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min using automated glucose analyzer. The plasma insulin concentration was determined by rat insulin EIA kit. Administration of Cr-pic improved weight gain in all groups with higher significant in the low-dose group. There was no significance between the control and the Cr-pic treated groups in the area under the blood glucose curve and serum insulin concentration plots of IPGTT and peripheral ITT in type Ⅰ diabetic rats. But Cr-pic treated groups showed significantly lower levels of the area under the blood glucose curve during IPGTT and ITT and the high-dose group showed less effects compared with the low-dose group in the type Ⅱ diabetic rats. The plasma insulin concentration of both diabetic groups was not influenced by Cr-pic supplementation. We can conclude that chromium picolinate may improve the endogenous and exogenous insulin action and peripheral insulin sensitivity in type Ⅱ diabetic rats.