Estrogen-Mediated Impairments of Vascular Health in Diabetes

Diabetes has recently been referred to as “the epidemic of the 21st century”. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for 80% of diabetes-associated morbidity and mortality and women with type 1 diabetes suffer substantially more risk for CVD compared to men with diabetes. However, the reason for this sex-disparity in CVD risk is unknown. Findings from this proposal will not only uncover circulating levels of estrogen throughout the menstrual cycle as a contributor of poor vascular health, it will identify 2 potential therapeutic treatment options to improve blood vessel function in patients with type 1 diabetes.