FBLN1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: We suggested that these associations could be secondary to increased arterial stiffness, because we observed increased arterial fibulin-1 concentrations in the arterial ECM in individuals with type 2 diabetes and because there was a correlation between plasma fibulin-1 and carotid compliance.5 Increased vessel stiffness could lead to premature return of reflected pulse waves in late systole,29,30 causing abnormal LV relaxation and impaired LV filling.