The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in early diabetes and those with impaired glucose regulation was linked to enhanced TXNIP through the increased soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) that facilitates leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium, which is one of the first steps in the initiation of atherosclerosis [37]. The gene discussed is VCAM1; the disease is atherosclerosis.