Diabetes Macroangiopathy-A Review

Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder characterised by high levels of blood glucose, is associated with several vascular complications. Although insulin treatment, oral medications, dietary regulations and exercise can delay the development of diabetic microangiopathy, the development of macroangiopathy cannot be prevented solely by glycaemic control. However, diabetic-macroangiopathy refers mainly to an accelerated form of atherosclerosis. This in turn affects both the coronary and cerebral vasculature, thus increasing the risk of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris and cerebrovascular accidents. Diabetes mellitus in humans and animal models of diabetes are associated with impaired endotheliumdependent relaxation i.e. endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction, a surrogate marker for the development of diabetic macroangiopathy.^{1, 2, 3}