Editorial

Abstract

I am greatly honored to take on the responsibility of being the editor of the International Journal of Cardiodiabetes. The incidence of diabetes is increasing worldwide and although there are many therapies that effectively control blood glucose levels patients with diabetes they continue to be at an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral artery disease. Indeed, although in many countries the age-adjusted risk of cardiovascular death in type 2 diabetes has decreased by more than 50% over the last 30 years it has only done so in parallel with the risk reduction in the general population. The most obvious conclusion is that currently used treatments do not target the diabetes-specific risk of cardiovascular disease. Consequently, we must realize that despite all research efforts we still do not fully understand the pathophysiological processes through which diabetes cause cardiovascular complications. It is my hope that the International Journal of Cardiodiabetes will make important contributions to improving our understanding of how diabetes affects the vasculature and the heart thus helping to develop improved strategies for prevention and care. Several of the articles published in this issue of the journal focus on the management of coronary disease in diabetes and provide overview of current state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment. Other articles focus on the role of interactions between obesity, metabolic syndrome-like states, and the cardiovascular system. I am very happy to see the high scientific quality of the contributions and believe they will be of considerable interests for everybody engaged in diabetes research and the clinical care of patients.