European journal of preventive cardiology
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Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have an important role in repair following vascular injury. However, in patients with diabetes, EPC number and function are markedly reduced. It is unclear whether intensive glycaemic control can modify EPC properties in diabetic patients. We aimed to examine whether glycaemic control can improve EPC number and function in patients with long-standing uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. ⋯ In patients with uncontrolled long-standing type 2 diabetes, intensive glycaemic control was associated with an increase in the levels of circulating EPCs, and improvement in their functional properties.