Cardiovascular complications of diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder, which leads to many organ-specific complications. Patients with diabetes are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD in the context of diabetes (and this article) includes all forms of coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular disease. As per Diabetes UK, the NHS spends almost 10% of its budget on diabetes or related illness. As the increasing number of patients with diabetes has significantly increased the burden on the NHS, it is important to not only diagnose and treat them early, but also to reduce the development of complications through preventive measures. This article specifically looks at the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management of the cardiovascular complications of diabetes.