Protection from vascular risk in diabetic hypertension.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and associated with a high incidence of complications affecting both the microvascular and the macrovascular systems. Macrovascular disease affects the coronary arteries, the cerebral vessels, and the large peripheral arteries of the lower extremities. Microangiopathy affects the kidneys, eyes, and nerves. Both forms of complication are major causes of death and disability in diabetes. The precise pathophysiology of these vascular complications is becoming better understood, but specific treatment and prevention remain complex.