Endothelial dysfunction and intima media thickness are selectively related to the different carbohydrate disturbances across the glucose continuum.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of macrovascular complications across different carbohydrate disturbances.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the study, we included 167 patients, divided them into three age and BMI matched groups - group 1 with obesity without carbohydrate disturbances (n = 66), group 2 with prediabetes (n = 68) and group 3 with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (n = 33). Endothelial function was evaluated using EndoPAT, intima media thickness (IMT) was measured on the common carotid artery and ankle-brachial index (ABI) was calculated.

RESULTS: The patients with T2D had significantly higher mean IMT than the other two groups. The best predictors of increased IMT were fasting blood glucose followed by age and SBP. ROC-analysis showed that blood glucose on 60 min of OGTT had a very good predictive value for endothelial dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with newly diagnosed diabetes have increased IMT and a tendency towards higher ABI compared to normoglycemic and prediabetic subjects.