Overview
Submission Instructions
Recent Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Topics
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DC
Diabetes Care is a monthly journal for health care practitioners that aims to increase knowledge, stimulate research, and promote better management of people with diabetes. It publishes original research on human studies across clinical care, education, nutrition, psychosocial research, epidemiology, health services research, emerging treatments and technologies, pathophysiology, complications, and cardiovascular and metabolic risk, along with ADA statements, consensus reports, clinically relevant review articles, letters to the editor, and health and medical news or points of view.
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Subject
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Impact Factor
16.6
Quartile
Q1
Open Access Type
Hybrid
ISSN
0149-5992
eISSN
1935-5548
Invitation Only
No
Cost Range
Open Choice is available for an additional article-processing charge.
Submission Instructions
Diabetes Care accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.
Original Articles
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
A structured abstract is required for Original Articles. The abstract must not exceed 250 words. The abstract must be structured. The abstract must include the headings Objective, Research Design and Methods, Results, and Conclusions.
Manuscript
The manuscript must not exceed 4,000 words, excluding tables, table legends, figure legends, title page, acknowledgments, and references. The manuscript must be arranged as title page, structured abstract, introduction without a heading, Research Design and Methods, Results, Conclusions, Acknowledgments, References, tables, and figure legends. Graphical abstracts and Article Highlights are required, Article Highlights must appear immediately after the abstract in 75 to 130 words or fewer answering the specified bulleted questions, and the manuscript must include a Data and Resource Availability section at the end of Research Design and Methods with separate Data Sharing and Resource Sharing statements and conflict-of-interest statements for all authors in the Acknowledgments section.
References
The manuscript must contain no more than 40 references. References are numbered in chronological order in the text using parentheses, must list all authors by first initials and last name, include inclusive page numbers, and use National Library of Medicine journal abbreviations or full titles if unlisted.
Figures & Tables
The manuscript must contain no more than a combined total of 4 tables and figures. Tables must be inserted after the References section and figure legends must appear at the end of the manuscript, while graphical abstracts must be uploaded individually to the submission system. A graphical abstract is required and should clearly summarize the article’s focus and findings.
Reviews
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 5,000 words. Graphical abstracts are required and must be uploaded individually, and Article Highlights of 75 to 130 words in complete sentences must appear immediately after the abstract and answer why the study was undertaken, the specific question or questions, what was found, and the implications of the findings.
References
References are limited to 100. References are numbered in chronological order in the text using parentheses, must list all authors by first initials and last name, and must include inclusive page numbers.
Figures & Tables
Figures and tables are limited to a combined total of 7. Each table must be inserted after the References section in the main document, while graphical abstracts must be uploaded individually to the submission system. Graphical abstracts should provide an original image clearly summarizing the focus and findings of the article.
Systematic Reviews
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 4,000 words, excluding tables, table legends, figure legends, title page, acknowledgments, and references. Main document must include the title page, abstract, main text, acknowledgments, references, tables, and figure legends in that order. Manuscript must include conflict-of-interest statements for all authors in the Acknowledgments section, an Author Contributions section, and disclosure of any AI-assisted content or writing with the tool details.
References
References must not exceed 40. References are cited in chronological numerical order in the text using parentheses, with all authors listed by first initials and last name and inclusive page numbers provided.
Figures & Tables
Tables and figures must not exceed a combined total of 4. Each table must be inserted after the References section, figure legends must appear in a Figure Legends section at the end of the manuscript, and for peer review figure legends must also be included beneath each image. Tables and figures must be cited in numerical order in the text.
Meta-Analyses
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Manuscript must not exceed 4,000 words excluding tables, table legends, figure legends, title page, acknowledgments, and references. Acknowledgments must include a conflict-of-interest statement for all authors, and the title page must include the systematic review or meta-analysis registration number, registry name, and registration URL.
References
References must not exceed 40. References are cited in chronological numerical order within parentheses, must list all authors by first initials and last name, include inclusive page numbers, and use National Library of Medicine journal title abbreviations when applicable.
Figures & Tables
Tables and figures must not exceed a combined total of 4. Each table must be inserted after the References section, each figure legend must appear in a Figure Legends section at the end of the manuscript, and figure legends must also be included beneath each image for peer review.
Brief Reports
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
A structured abstract is required for Brief Reports. The abstract must not exceed 150 words. The abstract must be structured.
Manuscript
The manuscript must not exceed 1,500 words excluding the 150-word abstract, tables, figures, legends, title page, acknowledgments, and references. Brief Reports must include a short introduction of 2 to 3 sentences after the abstract followed by the sections Research Design and Methods, Results, Conclusions, and References. Brief Reports must include Article Highlights immediately after the abstract, a graphical abstract, and author contributions, a guarantor statement, and conflict-of-interest disclosures for all authors in the Acknowledgments.
References
Brief Reports are limited to no more than 20 references. References must be numbered in chronological order in the text using parentheses, list all authors by first initials and last name, include inclusive page numbers, and use National Library of Medicine journal abbreviations when applicable.
Figures & Tables
Brief Reports may contain a combined total of 4 tables and figures. Each table must be inserted after the References section, figure legends must appear in a Figure Legends section at the end of the manuscript, and graphical abstracts must be uploaded individually to the submission system. Graphical abstracts are required to provide an original image summarizing the article and should use a landscape layout with sparse text in common fonts.
Letters
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
Abstract is not required for letters.
Manuscript
Comment and response letters must not exceed 500 words excluding references, and observation letters must not exceed 750 words excluding references. Letters must include a title page. Letters must include a conflict-of-interest statement for all authors in the acknowledgments section of the main document.
References
Letters may include a maximum of 5 references. References are numbered in chronological order in the text using parentheses, list all authors by first initials and last name, and include inclusive page numbers.
Figures & Tables
Figures & Tables requirements are not specified.
Images And Reports
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
The main narrative must be 800 words or fewer, and the bulleted summary must be 200 words or fewer. Submission must include a standard title page, a bulleted summary of 5 to 10 points, and a main narrative. A legend is required for each figure and video.
References
The reference list must contain 10 or fewer citations. References are numbered in chronological order in the text using parentheses, list all authors by first initials and last name, and include inclusive page numbers.
Figures & Tables
Submission should include 1 to 2 figures or videos. Figures, videos, and still images must be uploaded as separate files, and a separate still image must be submitted for each video file. Submission must include original images or videos, and images and videos must have identifying patient or hospital information, including dates, removed.
Comment Letters
Cover Letter
A signed manuscript submission form is required for letters.
Abstract
Abstracts are not permitted for Comment Letters.
Manuscript
Comment and response letters must not exceed 500 words excluding references. Comment Letters must include a title page. Letters must include a conflict-of-interest statement for all authors in the acknowledgments section of the main document.
References
Comment Letters may include no more than 5 references. Comment Letters must list the cited paper as reference 1 in the reference list.
Figures & Tables
Comment Letters must not include any tables or figures.
Response Letters
Cover Letter
Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Response Letters must not exceed 500 words excluding references. Response Letters must include a title page. Response Letters must include a conflict-of-interest statement for all authors in the acknowledgments section of the main document.
References
Response Letters are limited to a maximum of 5 references. Response Letters must include the comment letter as reference 1 in the reference list.
Figures & Tables
Response Letters must not include any tables or figures.
Observation Letters
Cover Letter
A signed manuscript submission form is required for letters.
Abstract
Letters do not have abstracts.
Manuscript
Observation letters must not exceed 750 words, excluding references. Letters must include a title page. Letters must include a conflict-of-interest statement for all authors in the acknowledgments section of the main document.
References
Letters are allowed a maximum of 5 references. Reference numbers in the text must begin at the Introduction and appear in chronological order within parentheses, all authors must be listed by first initials and last name in each reference, references must include inclusive page numbers, and journal titles should be abbreviated according to the National Library of Medicine's List of Journals Indexed for Medline or given in full if unlisted.
Figures & Tables
Observation Letters may include either one table or one figure. Each table must be inserted after the References section, and figure legends must be included in a section labeled "Figure Legends" at the end of the manuscript.
Recent Publications
Response to Comment on Abdul-Ghani et al. One-Hour Plasma Glucose Predicts the Progression From Normal Glucose Tolerance to Prediabetes. Diabetes Care 2025;48:1273–1279
Muhammad Abdul-Ghani, Mohammed Abu-Farha, Tamam Abdul-Ghani, Alberto Chavez-Velazquez, Auora Merovci, Ralph A. DeFronzo, Fahad Alajmi, Michael Stern, Fahd Al-Mulla
10.2337/dci25-0099
View Publication
Response to Comment on Valent et al. Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Pregnancies With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Diabetes Care 2025;48:1581–1588
Amy M. Valent, Lucy Ward
10.2337/dci25-0112
View Publication
Extending Sleep to Improve Glucose Metabolism in Adults With Short Sleep and Prediabetes: A Challenging Intervention
Eve Van Cauter, Sirimon Reutrakul
10.2337/dci26-0011
View Publication
Merging T1D and T2D Management: Shared Strategies for Common Goals—Building on Early Lessons From GLP-1 Trials in T1D
Richard M. Bergenstal, Holly J. Willis, Anders L. Carlson
10.2337/dci26-0010
View Publication
From Glucose to Limb Salvage: New Therapeutic Frontiers to Redefine Outcomes in Diabetic Foot Disease
Cyaandi Dove, Rodica Pop-Busui
10.2337/dci26-0012
View Publication
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to publish?
Average time to first decision: 18 days. Accepted articles are published online ahead of print 5–6 weeks after acceptance.
Reformat to Diabetes Care using Livewrite PremiumIs a cover letter required?
Editorial proposals require a cover letter explaining why the authors are suited to write the article and their area of expertise and bios for unsolicited editorials.
Reformat to Diabetes Care using Livewrite PremiumWhat are the publication costs?
Open Choice is available for an additional article-processing charge.
Reformat to Diabetes Care using Livewrite PremiumResearch Topics
Diabetes Management and Research
Diabetes Treatment and Management
Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
Diabetes and associated disorders
Pancreatic function and diabetes
Diabetes Management and Education
Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
Diet and metabolism studies
Hyperglycemia and glycemic control in critically ill and hospitalized patients
Gestational Diabetes Research and Management
Cardiovascular Function and Risk Factors
Diabetic Foot Ulcer Assessment and Management
Chronic Disease Management Strategies
Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies
Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment
Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes
Chronic Kidney Disease and Diabetes
Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Diet, Metabolism, and Disease
Birth, Development, and Health
Nutritional Studies and Diet
Retinal Diseases and Treatments
Obesity and Health Practices