Glucose: a continuous risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The glucose level that defines diabetes mellitus is that level above which patients have a high risk of eye, kidney, and neuronal disease. The risk of these complications rises as glucose levels increase, and decreases as therapy brings the glucose level down. Thus, in patients with diabetes, glucose is a continuous, modifiable risk factor for eye, kidney and peripheral nerve disease. Plasma glucose concentrations in the diabetic range are also …