Editorial

Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Authors: Ashkan Mowla, MD, Amir Bahrami, MD, Seyed Alireza Dastgheib, MD

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus magnifies the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.1 Besides the well-recognized microvascular complications of diabetes, such as nephropathy and retinopathy, there is a growing epidemic of macrovascular complications, including diseases of the coronary arteries, peripheral arteries and carotid vessels, particularly in the burgeoning type 2 diabetic population.2 Despite this challenge, many primary care physicians have not yet adopted evidence-based management strategies. The traditional therapeutic approaches emphasize glycemic control, which limits microvascular disease but lacks an established benefit in macrovascular disease. Understanding atherosclerosis in diabetes and instituting therapy guided by emerging evidence should improve patient outcomes. The evidence supports aggressive antiatherosclerotic management strategies upon diagnosis of type 2 diabetes to minimize the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.3

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