[The role of glucose and reactive oxygen species in the development of vascular complications of diabetes mellitus].
Several mechanisms seem to be involved in the development of oxidative stress in the presence of elevated glucose concentrations, namely glucose autoxidation, protein glycation, and the polyol pathway. In diabetes patients reactive oxygen species and advanced glycation end products are able to alter vascular function and disturb cellular homeostasis especially by lipid peroxidation, changes in extracellular matrix and inhibiting synthesis and action of nitric oxide.