Update on Echocardiographic Assessment in Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a well-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and cardiac death. While the increased mortality of patients with DM has traditionally been attributed to coronary artery disease, approximately half of the mortality has other causes, including non-ischemic heart failure (HF). In this context, effective screening and diagnosis of cardiac structural and functional abnormalities are crucial for preventive strategies and for predicting prognosis. This review discusses various echocardiographic diagnostic modalities, including tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and two-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) for screening, risk stratification, and guidance of management of patients with T2DM.