Dysglycaemia, vasculopenia, and the chronic consequences of diabetes

High glucose concentrations are independent risk factors for many serious disorders. Glucose lowering can reduce or prevent many of these disorders. The mechanisms that cause glucose-linked tissue damage are unclear; however, the sequence of tissue changes that lead to one of these consequences (ie, retinopathy) have been understood for decades because the retina can be easily inspected and changes in its vascular supply can easily be assessed. …