Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment in Diabetes

Diabetes has become an increasing issue in the last century and even more pressing in the last few decades due to the exponential rise of obesity and has become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with diabetes. Hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and excess fatty acids increase oxidative stress, disrupt protein kinase C signaling, and increase advanced glycation end-products that result in vascular inflammation, vasoconstriction, thrombosis, and atherogenesis. Compared to non-diabetics, those with diabetes carry a higher mortality risk from CVD across ethnicity and sex. The most common cardiovascular manifestations in those with diabetes include heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, and coronary heart disease. CVD risk assessment in diabetes can present an opportunity for preventive strategies and decreased mortality for people with diabetes.