Why does vascular disease develop in diabetics?

Inflammation: Uncontrolled blood glucose due to diabetes leads to chronic inflammation in the vasculature. This leads to damage and poor repair response.

Inflammatory changes: Diabetes and the Insulin resistant state yields increased endothelial dysfunction and helps accelerate the cascade of inflammation that leads to atherosclerosis and vascular narrowing. This exacerbates also the risk of plaque rupture that can lead to acute coronary states. 80% of diabetics die ultimately of vascular causes (mi, cva, or complications of pvod).

High glucose blood: Levels over time promotes inflammation and atherosclerosis formation.

Inflammation: Diabetes can lead to protein changes and inflammation, leading to atherosclerosis, or narrowing and stiffening of blood vessels. Depending on the location, these narrowed arteries may cause heart attack (heart or coronary arteries), stroke (carotid), amputations due to infection/poor healing (legs & feet), blindness (eyes), and kidney failure (kidneys).