Accordingly, we designed a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II clinical trial to test the effects of IL-1β inhibition, using canakinumab, on: 1) MRI-derived measures of vascular structure and function; 2) measures of diabetes control; and 3) indicators of systemic inflammation in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or T2DM. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is diabetes mellitus.