Coronary heart disease is triggered by a narrowing of the coronary arteries, which surround the heart and supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood and nutrients. The constriction is caused by calcification of the vessels or plaques, which is also known as arteriosclerosis. Blood fats and proteins are deposited in the wall of the blood vessels and trigger inflammation. As a result, these foci of inflammation are enclosed in a kind of scarring by calcium and connective tissue. Artery narrows and blood flow decreases. If the rupture of such a plaque causes an acute vascular occlusion, this leads to a heart attack or stroke. Diabetics are particularly at risk because the increased blood sugar on the one hand pre-damages the blood vessels and on the other hand worsens the local inflammation. In addition, diabetics often suffer from obesity, high blood pressure, and poor blood lipid levels, which further promote arteriosclerosis. Two-thirds of diabetics therefore die of cardiovascular diseases.

You can find more information about coronary heart disease here.

An average of 10-15 years after the onset of the disease, 25% - 40% of diabetics suffer from chronic kidney dysfunction, which is known as diabetic nephropathy. However, the onset of nephropathy does not cause pain and is also not indicated by symptoms. Therefore, early detection is particularly important.

The kidneys fulfill vital tasks - if left untreated, the loss of kidney function is usually fatal. The main job of the kidneys is filtering: waste products are removed from the blood and leave the body in the urine. High blood sugar levels can damage the small blood vessels that act as filters in the kidney.

Kidney damage is characterized by a slow loss of the kidney's filter function that progresses over months and years. This eventually leads to kidney failure and the need for renal replacement therapy: dialysis and/or kidney transplant.

More information on chronic kidney disease can be found here.