Diabetes affects our blood vessels and nerves and therefore can affect any part of the body. However, certain parts of our body are affected more than other parts.
I don't think dogwoods have (much?) scent, maybe just lightly floral. The white petally looking things are not actually petals they are bracts, like a poinsettia has. There's something called an English dogwood that is very fragrant, but it isn't a true dogwood and is also known as mock orange. Bradford pears have a smell that this author described as sweaty socks, so if your tree doesn't smell very good that's probably it: http://www.gardenguides.com/106133-dogw ...
Growth rate: Medium, with height increases of 13 to 24 inches a year. Cost: 4-6 feet, $150-$200. One of the most popular trees in a residential landscape, the dogwood (whether it be white, pink or red) is considered an ornamental and a flowering tree. It blooms in April and May, and then features dark green leaves throughout the summer. In the fall, the leaves turn red or reddish purple.