Cerebral circulation during diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia, a decrease in circulating insulin and the development of macro- and microvascular pathology. Hyperglycemia appears to be a primary determinant for the structural, biochemical and functional changes that occur in large and small blood vessels during diabetes mellitus. While much research has focused on the effects of diabetes mellitus on the peripheral circulation, it is clear that diabetes mellitus also has profound effects on the cerebral circulation. Thus, the focus of this review is to discuss morphological and functional alterations in the cerebral circulation during diabetes mellitus.