FIG. 7.

Summary of graphic illustration. (A) The main pathways through which hyperglycemia inflicts its cardiovascular damaging effects and the eventual rise of CVD through ROS and S100A8/A9 are shown. (B) The current diabetes treatment of targeting hyperglycemia still allows for the progression of CVD in diabetic patients due to detrimental TIH, which involves glucose spikes, usually undetectable by blood glucose readings and A1C levels. (C) New and experimental diabetes treatments that target pathways downstream of hyperglycemia and TIH are shown in preliminary studies and trials to be effective at preventing/slowing the development of CVD. The implications of these studies give an optimistic view of the usefulness of these targeted therapies in conjunction with current treatment options for mitigating the damaging cardiovascular effects of diabetes. CVD, cardiovascular disease; TIH, transient intermittent hyperglycemia; SGLT2i, sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor; SOD, superoxide dismutase. Color images are available online.