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Diabetes mellitus is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was, first, to determine whether young patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus display atherosclerotic changes at the stage when clinical signs of vascular disease have not yet developed, and, second, to identify the factors accelerating atherogenesis. New high-resolution ultrasound methods allow for the detection of early pathological changes of peripheral arteries. Changes in the blood flow and the diameter of brachial artery occurring during reactive hyperemia and after the administration of sublingual glyceril trinitrate were studied. In addition, the intima-media thickness of three different segments of carotid arteries was measured. Early functional and morphologic changes indicating accelerated atherogenesis were found to be present in young insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. Functional disturbances (impairment of peripheral arteries flow-mediated dilation due to endothelial dysfunction) in insuline-dependent diabetes mellitus occur before morphologic changes have become apparent. Furthermore, there is a direct correlation between functonal and morphologic changes of the arterial wall.