We have shown that long-term streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats is associated with (a) increased urinary excretion of VEGF-A, total protein and albumin, (b) increased concentrations of VEGF-A and the thrombin–antithrombin complex in the blood, (c) decreased blood concentration of soluble adhesion molecule vascular cells 1 (sVCAM-1), (d) attenuation of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. Here, VCAM1 is linked to diabetes mellitus.