The leading cause of T2DM is a prolonged high-sugar, high-fat diet (HFHG), commonly known as a Western diet, which inevitably leads to VED, characterized by reduced content of nitric oxide (NO), uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (ENOS), increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulation of endothelial-related adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), and endothelin 1 (ET-1). The gene discussed is EDN1; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.