Cerebral ischemia in diabetics and oxidative stress

Cerebral ischemia is one of the major complications of diabetes. Eighty-four percent of diabetics die from either heart disease or stroke (both cause cerebral ischemia). Diabetes-induced oxidative stress is one of the factors responsible for the secondary complications of diabetes, even after diabetes treatment. Oxidative stress also causes an increase in cerebral ischemic damage, resulting in the activation of necrotic and apoptotic pathways. In this chapter, we provide a literature review on how cerebral ischemia-induced oxidative stress is exacerbated in diabetics. We also provide correlates of how this increased oxidative stress may be responsible for increased cerebral ischemia damage in diabetics.