Abstract
Patients with Diabetes mellitus have an increased risk for micro- and macrovascular
complications. Diabetes therapy should therefore aim for the prevention of cardiovascular
disease. This can be reached by a combination of life style modification in addition
to optimal medical therapy of blood pressure, -lipids and blood glucose. The therapeutic
approach to coronary artery disease, heart failure or arrhythmias does not differ
in patients with diabetes from the general population. Yet, if a coronary revascularization
therapy is needed, patients with diabetes and complex multi-vessel disease do benefit
from aortocoronary bypass operation rather than an interventional approach. Percutaneous
coronary intervention in diabetic patients should be performed primarily with drug-eluting
stents rather than bare metal stents. Screening for microangiopathic complications
including retinopathy, nephropathy or neuropathy is advised on a regular basis.
