Late diabetic complications due to vascular and extravascular impairments develop as a consequence of chronic diabetes mellitus. Extent of affection reflects disease duration and therapeutic compensation; however, other modulating factors are involved. Due to growing incidence and permanent shift to younger age diabetes represents serious health problem. T2DM develops in consequence of „dysadaptation“ of human genome to rapidly changing environment and life style. Primary prevention of diabetes is rather limited at present, secondary prevention or minimalization of late consequences is practically achievable. Full understanding of pathogenesis and identification of high-risk diabetic subjects will help to upgrade therapeutical options and improve patient’s prognosis. This review devoted to late diabetic complications will summarize recent findings about proximal hyperglycaemia-induced alterations leading to common pathogenic action - inhibition of glycolysis on the level of GAPDH due to increased ratio NADH/NAD+, generation of superoxide and intracellular accumulation of dicarbonyls. Activated expression of series of genes leads to tissue remodelation responsible for organ manifestation. Subsequent article will deal with putative genetic susceptibility to their development.

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