Diabetes and stroke

Abstract

Acute disorders of cerebral circulation (strokes) are one of the long-known complications of diabetes, which, along with other macrovascular complications, such as myocardial infarction and damage of peripheral arteries are the main cause of death in patients with type 2 diabetes. Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the economically developed countries in Europe and North America. Despite great efforts to reduce the risk of strokes in many developed countries of the world, the increase in life expectancy and the increase in the prevalence of risk factors for the development of stroke (among which diabetes plays a major role) have led to the fact that the probability of having a stroke during one's life has, on the contrary, increased from 22.8% in 1990 to 24.9% in 2016. This review, based on an analysis of the latest available studies, discusses the etiology, pathogenesis, and risk factors for stroke in patients with diabetes mellitus.