THE PROGRESSION OF DIABETIC MICROVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS AND INCREASED VASCULAR STIFFNESS

Abstract

In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus it might be helpful to use, for risk stratification, non-invasive techniques as markers of early atherosclerosis. Arterial stiffness shows the functional vascular properties and can be estimated by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIX). Typical for type 2 diabetes is premature arterial stiffening which appears before the onset of clinically micro or macrovascular disease and is increased in the presence of microvascular complications. Further studies are needed to determine whether therapeutic interventions for reducing vascular stiffness may decrease the cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes.