It is a great honour to have been asked to write the foreword to the inaugural edition of The International Journal of cardiodiabetes. At such a time with the COVID Pandemic still raging in many parts of the world, one might reasonably ask why at this time we need to have yet another medical journal in addition to the numerous publications that already exist? However, it is precisely the mortality, morbidity, geographical spread, economic effects, social disruption and inequalities which the Pandemic has highlighted that merit an even wider view of the importance of global healthcare. Whilst COVID is a global communicable disease, diabetes mellitus is in many senses a non-communicable equivalent with an ever burgeoning significance.
It is estimated that almost half a billion people in the world are currently living with diabetes, with a trajectory that suggests that this will rise to three-quarters of a billion by the middle of this 21st century. In addition to acute complications and disease related to retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy, the majority will succumb to premature cardiovascular disease affecting the heart, brain and lower limb circulation. These latter so-called macrovascular complications represent a huge challenge and potential area for healthcare improvement. Any aspects of diabetes related to circulatory health can thus be referred to as cardiodiabetes.
Themajor geographical distribution of diabetes includes both high-income and middle-income countries particularly in Asia, the Middle East and Western Pacific. Therefore, healthcare solutions that can be utilised in the different healthcare settings is of great importance.
The founding editor and his editorial team, through great energy of application in these challenging times, have managed to coalesce and draw from a range of medical and surgical disciplines in different healthcare settings across the world and create a forum for a broad range of scholarly work related to cardiodiabetes. In so doing they are helping in the effort to improve the knowledge of all those practitioners who are engaged in the prevention and treatment of this global non-communicable disease.
This year marks the centenary of the successful experimental work in Canada that led to the development of insulin by joint Nobel prize winners Frederick Banting and Charles Best in collaboration with Collip and direction of Macleod. There have been many medical milestones large and small since then, and so I wish that this Journal succeeds in its collaborative multidisciplinary mission to be a key resource for the diffusion of knowledge and practice, for current and future milestones related to cardiodiabetes, amongst the healthcare community.
To my knowledge this is the first time that there will be a laser like focus on the interaction between cardiology and diabetes; the International Journal of Cardiodiabetes will, I know, have a phenomenal global impact, literally helping save lives from these two deadly, interrelated diseases, starting with issue 1.
Postscript: The sad passing of Professor Avijit Lahiri.
Since writing this preface, I, like many, have been saddened terribly by the news of the recent passing of Professor Avijit Lahiri. Such a large positive character in the lives of many is a tremendous loss and he will be greatly missed. A true pioneer, acclaimed scientist, compassionate clinician, and friend. This journal is but one small element of his huge legacy reflecting his service to patients, contribution to science, and mentorship of many doctors and colleagues. I am confident that he would want the clinical and scientific community to support this most recent of his many endeavours and ensure that the work he started endures.
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