ENDOTHELIUM IN INSULIN-RESISTANCE AND DIABETES

The prognosis of patients with diabetes is related to the severity of vascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis, as well as to microvas cular complications such as glomerulopathy and retinopathy, There now exists substantial evidence that endothelial function is abnormal in e xperimental models of diabetes and in patients with diabetes. Specific ally, the availability of endothelial-derived NO is reduced. The follo wing discussion focuses on evidence for damage to the endothelium in t he metabolic cardiovascular syndrome of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, potential pathophysiological mechanisms of damage, and clini cal implications with goals for further research.