Signaling Mechanisms and Vascular Function in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with diabetes mellitus will be eligible if they are receiving dietary treatment for hyperglycemia, sulfonylureas, metformin or insulin

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any diabetic subject with a HgbA1C level of <7% or >11%
• Evidence of atherosclerosis
• symptoms of angina
• symptoms of claudication
• symptoms of cerebrovascular ischemia
• findings of arterial occlusive disease, as would be suggested by decreased pulses, asymmetric blood pressure, bruits or reduced limb pressure measurements
• hypertension defined as a systolic blood pressure > = 150 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure >= 95 mmHg; (allowable blood pressure medications for diabetic subjects include calcium channel blockers, alpha and beta adrenergic blockers, and diuretics)
• hypercholesterolemia, defined as total cholesterol levels greater than 75th percentile for age and sex and LDL cholesterol levels >130mg/dL.
• renal insufficiency (serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dL for men; >1.2 mg/dL for women)
• hepatic dysfunction defined as liver enzyme abnormalities > two times the upper limit of normal
• chronic pulmonary disease
• congestive heart failure
• pregnancy (or subjects planning to become pregnant);
• history of cigarette smoking within the last five years;

• history of clinically significant coronary artery or cerebrovascular disease (defined as MI or stroke within 6 months, or presence of unstable angina)

  • use of any, vasoactive, cardioactive, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications within 24 hours of vascular testing visits