Interrelation of diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease

In patients with diabetes mellitus, the processes of lipid peroxidation are activated and the system of antioxidants is disturbed (the content of reduced glutathione and red cell glutathione reductase is lowered and red cell glutathione peroxidase activity is heightened). At the same time the patients demonstrate high concentration of sterols bound by fibrinogen, a considerable lowering of cholesterol content in high density lipoproteins having an antiiatrogenic action. The alterations found underlie the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.