Diabetes and vascular disease.

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease are two of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in the USA and worldwide. The impact of these conditions is even more profound in patients with diabetes. The aims of the Vascular Disease Working Group in the articles that follow are to review the impact of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease in the general population, and, specifically, in the patient with diabetes, and to suggest appropriate treatment. Important steps to decreasing the risk of these diseases in diabetic patients are strict glycaemic control, control of hypertension, and modification of dyslipidaemia.