[Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease].

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases, the incidence of which tends to grow steadily. The great social importance of diabetes mellitus is determined by disability and deaths from late vascular events. So the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the cardiovascular safety of glucose-lowering therapy for T2DM are a multidisciplinary and multi-faceted problem. Its solution requires a comprehensive approach to controlling the risk factors of CVD and assessing hypoglycemic therapy in the context of cardiovascular safety. The paper shows the bases of CVD pathogenesis and contains the results of numerous international clinical trials evaluating the efficiency and safety of current glucose-lowering therapy (metformin and cardioprotective drugs, the action of which is based on their incretin effect).