[Cardial target-organ damage in diabetes]

Coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus can be considered as a syntropy. Accordingly, cardiologists and diabetologists should organize an interdisciplinary car of the patient with both cardiac disease and diabetes mellitus. Arterial hypertension is frequently present in the diabetic condition and increases further morbidity and mortality rates due to the involvement of the coronary microcirculation. Coronary artery disease is characterized by a rapid progression and a diffuse distribution particularly in the periphery. Consequently in severe diabetic coronary artery disease coronary bypass surgery should be preferred rather than percutaneous coronary stenting, which should be favored in less severe cases. In the antihyperglycemic treatment a reduction in cardiovascular endpoints has only be documented after metformin. Therapy with thiazolidinediones has been terminated due to an increase in coronary morbidity and mortality under rosiglitazone. In as much glucagon-like peptide-I analogues and dipeptidylpeptidase 4 inhibitors will reduce cardiovascular endpoints has to be waited for. Thus an endpoint orientated antihyperglycemic treatment is limited to insulin, metformin and sulfonylureas.