OBJECTIVES: Vascular Disease is the leading cause of complications and death in patients with diabetes. Risk markers and underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated, and may differ from those in non-diabetic individuals. The unifying theme for the Program Project is that hyperglycemia and insulin resistance alter a number of biological processes which interact in vicious cycles to accelerate atherogenesis and are consequently major underlying risk factors for vascular disease. The overall objectives are to define these unique processes and to elucidate underlying biochemical, metabolic, and genetic determinants of vascular disease complications in diabetes.