An increasing number of experiments shows that diabetes impairs the stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR-4) and the nitric oxide (NO)/superoxide anions pathways and the p53/sirtuin1 (SIRT1)/p66Shc axis. The gene discussed is CXCR4; the disease is diabetes mellitus.