Interní Med. 2011; 13(5): 199-201

Diabetes and vascular disease

MUDr.Alena Broulíková, CSc.

III. interní klinika 1. LF UK Praha a VFN, Praha

Vascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with diabetes. The diabetic process leads to both accelerated

form of atherosclerosis affecting arteries of all sizes (large vessel disease or macroangiopathy) and to a specific microangiopathy

characterised by basement membrane thickening inm capillaries, arterioles and venules. Large vessel disease accounts for the excess of

coronary artery, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease, whereas microangiopathy contributes mainly to diabetes retinopathy

and nephropathy and partly also to neuropathy. Diabetic foot problems are due to a combination of ischaemia and neuropathy, often

complicated by infection. As foot ulcers usually take many weeks or months to heal, they are a major burden for the diabetic, their family

and the health care team from physical, psychological and financial perspectives.

macroangiopathy, diabetic foot syndrome.

Keywords: atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral artery occlusive disease of lower extremities, diabetic microangiopathy and

Published: June 1, 2011  Show citation