Aim of the study: was to determine the expression of the ganglioside GM3 and its sphingolipid precursors in kidneys and muscles in rat models of type 1 and 2 diabetes. Methods: the model of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) was induced with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 55 mg/kg, the model of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) was induced with a combination of a lower dose STZ (35 mg/kg) and a high-fat diet (58% fat). Rats were sacrificed two weeks after diabetes induction and then the expression of the ganglioside GM3 and its sphingolipid precursor in kidneys and muscles was analyzed by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and immunofluorescence microscopy. The expression of the gene for GM3 synthase in kidney for the T1DM group was determined using real-time PCR. Results: In muscles of the T2DM group expression of GM3 was significantly increased compared to the control group. The expression of GM3 was significantly increased in tubules of T1DM and T2DM groups in comparison to their controls. The expression of GM3 was significantly increased in glomerules of T1DM rats. Using real time PCR method we found a decreased expression of GM3 synthase in kidneys of T1DM rats compared to controls. Conclusion: Increased expression of GM3 ganglioside in muscles of rat model for type 2 diabetes induced by streptozotocin and high-fat diet confirms recentlyobtained results showing that ganglioside GM3 plays one of key roles in pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Increased expression of GM3 in tubules of both diabetes models suggest that there is a significant role of ganglioside GM3 in pathogenesis of diabetic tubulopathy. The rat model for diabetes type 2 induced by streptozocine and a high-fat diet could be a new widely used model for researching pharmacological influences on insulin resistence instead of the models that are currently used.