VOLUME 19 NUMBER 2 • November 2022 3 SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE From the Editor’s Desk Correspondence to: FA Mahomed Head of Internal Medicine, Madadeni Hospital Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal Happy Holidays we wish you joy A warm thank you from the management and staff of Clinics Cardive Publishing (publishers of the Cardiovascular Journal of Africa and the South African Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease) to our authors, reviewers and clients for your continued support and collaboration. May your holiday season and the new year be filled with much joy, happiness, health and success. Our office will close on 15 December 2021 and open on Monday 16 January 2022. We look forward to being of service to you in the new year. From the Editor’s Desk This issue of the journal looks at a range of topics, including a view on complications after carotid endarterectomy, the use of herbs in diabetes, an article on diabetes and heart disease, as well as news items that cover the impact of dairy products on diabetes, obesity and plant-based diets. Igrutinovic et al. (page 24), from Dedinje Clinic in Belgrade, examined complications after carotid endarterectomy in patients with and without diabetes. They show a clear increase in cardiac and neurological complications in patients with diabetes. Other studies show little difference in morbidity and mortality and overall safety of the procedure.1 Mohan (page 29) reviews published articles on the effectiveness of fenugreek in diabetes. The use of plants in medicine has a long history and insights like these are always fascinating. Read the article to get the answer about its effectiveness. Makan (page 32) from Life Wilgeheuwel puts cardiovascular assessment in diabetes into perspective. Use of coronary artery calcium scores, ECG stress testing, radionuclide cardiac tests, and others, remain options, but their use in screening for cardiovascular disease in diabetes is still being debated.2 Steenkamp presents a useful patient-friendly article explaining diabetes. A meta-analysis from the University of Naples (page 35), presented at the EASD, shows the benefit of dairy products in diabetes. While there is considerable interest in the impact of dairy products, it seems that the studies show that the overall effect on diabetes is neutral to mildly beneficial.3 The Canadian approach to management of obesity indicates that a holistic, life-long approach might be best (page 36). A study on body mass index and mortality is also discussed (page 38). Obesity remains a problem of our time and statistics show a relentless increase in obesity rates. Morbidity and mortality will weigh heavily on government’s health budgets.4 References 1. Rockman CB, Saltzberg SS, Maldonado TS, Adelman MA, Cayne NS, Lamparello PJ, et al. The safety of carotid endarterectomy in diabetic patients: clinical predictors of adverse outcome. J Vasc Surg 2005; 42(5): 878–883. 2. https://www.acc.org/guidelines. Accessed 13/12/2022. 3. Guo J, Givens DI, Astrup A, Bakker SJL, Goossens GH, Kratz M, et al. The impact of dairy products in the development of type 2 diabetes: where does the evidence stand in 2019? Adv Nutr 2019; 10(6): 1066–1075. 4. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html. Accessed 13/12/2022.
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