Information for Authors
The Diabetes Educator is the official journal of the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE). It is a peer-reviewed journal intended to serve as a reference source for the science and art of diabetes management. The Diabetes Educator publishes original articles that relate to (1) aspects of patient care and education, (2) clinical practice and/or research, and (3) the multidisciplinary profession of diabetes education as represented by nurses, dietitians, physicians, pharmacists, mental health professionals, podiatrists, and exercise physiologists.

MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION
Manuscripts must be submitted electronically at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/tde, where authors will be required to set up an online account in the SAGETRACK system powered by ScholarOne.

Questions can be submitted to the editorial office at the following address:
James A. Fain, PhD, RN, BC-ADM, FAAN
Editor-in-Chief

The Diabetes Educator
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
College of Nursing
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300
Phone: (508) 999-8586
Fax: (508) 999-9127
E-mail: jfain@umassd.edu

ARTICLE CATEGORIES

Features
Feature articles provide a detailed presentation of a subject from one of the following categories: original research, literature reviews, or perspectives in practice. All feature articles must include a structured abstract of 150 to 200 words.

Original Research
This type of feature reports original clinical investigations that are relevant to the education and care of people with diabetes. Research papers should be 12 to 14 double-spaced pages, excluding tables, figures, and references. The following elements should be included in reports of original research: (1) structured abstract; (2) introduction with statement of the purpose of the study; (3) complete description of the methods (eg, design, sample, evaluation instruments, procedures, statistical analyses); (4) clear report of the results; (5) conclusions/discussion of the findings; and (6) implications and/or recommendations that summarize how the findings can be applied to the practice of diabetes education.

Literature Reviews, Perspectives in Practice
Papers in this category should be 8 to 10 double-spaced pages, excluding tables, figures, and references. Literature reviews should provide a comprehensive summary and critique of information on a relevant topic from a representative collection of resources. The most current findings should be presented along with a history of the literature on the given topic. Controversies, issues, and questions should be addressed as well as standard practices and opinions. Perspectives in practice may take the form of a detailed case study in which clinical situations illustrate distinguishing, unique, or atypical features that provide a lesson to be learned.

Continuing Education

Feature articles for continuing education are selected by the editor-in-chief. Appropriate articles represent a timely topic that has been addressed in a comprehensive manner. Authors will be asked to write learner objectives for their article but are not required to write questions for the continuing education post-test. Preparation of test questions is the responsibility of AADE.

Departments
Articles concerning the application of principles and concepts in nutrition, pharmacy, psychosocial aspects of diabetes, research methodology, professional growth and development, and healthcare policy, as well as letters to the editor are published in specific departments. Papers may be submitted to the individual departments within The Diabetes Educator and should be 4 to 8 double-spaced pages, excluding tables, figures, and references.

Nutrition Update
These articles provide essential information about diabetes and nutrition for clinical practice. Papers might review the current literature on a timely topic and/or make specific recommendations for practice.

Pharmacy Update
These articles address information regarding any pharmaceutical used in diabetes care. Papers might review information on new products, pharmacokinetics, preparations, dosages, interactions, precautions, or side effects.

Professional Development
These articles provide a forum for sharing ideas, insights, and individual expertise on a broad range of topics related to professional growth as a diabetes educator. Papers might address specific strategies and/or practical approaches concerning the responsibilities of the diabetes healthcare professional.

Research Update
These articles provide readers with information about aspects of the research process and/or grant writing as it relates to diabetes care and patient education. Papers might focus on assisting the clinician or educator in planning, designing, implementing, or evaluating research proposals or grants for clinical application.

Tool Chest
These articles provide a format for sharing innovative educational strategies or tools that are relevant for use in patient and professional education. Papers might describe a particular teaching technique or tool and its application in practice.

Letters to the Editor
These letters provide a forum for commenting on articles published in The Diabetes Educator and topics of general interest in diabetes care and education. The length should not exceed 800 words of text with a minimal number of references. One table or figure may be included, if necessary. Any comments regarding a specific article must include the title, author(s), and date of publication. Letters that contain questions or criticisms in response to a previously published paper will be forwarded to the author(s) of that article for a reply. The sharing of ideas, experiences, opinions, and alternative views is encouraged. The editor-in-chief reserves the right to accept, reject, or excerpt letters for clarity and appropriateness of content, and to accommodate space requirements.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMISSION

The Diabetes Educator only accepts manuscripts that have not been published previously in print or electronic media and are not currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. Manuscripts are considered for publication with the understanding that all persons listed as authors have participated sufficiently in the research and writing to take public responsibility for the content. All authors must sign a copyright transfer releasing copyright authority to the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Published manuscripts in The Diabetes Educator and on the AADE Web site at www.diabeteseducator.org become the written property of The Diabetes Educator and may not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Authors are responsible for disclosing any financial association or commercial interest they may have in a product or service featured in their manuscript, in addition to the source of financial and/or material support. The editor in chief reserves the right to reject a manuscript based on a conflict of interest.

MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION AND STYLE Manuscripts must be typed double-spaced throughout (including references). Use margins of at least 1 inch on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. Nothing should be typed in all caps. Number pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, beginning with the title page, and provide a running head (not exceeding 50 characters) at the top of each page.

The manuscript should be organized in the following manner:

1. Title page

2. Structured abstract (for features)

3. Introduction (no heading)

4. Research design, methodology, results, conclusions (for features)

5. Text divided into logical headings and subheadings as appropriate

6. Implications/relevance for diabetes educators

7. Acknowledgments

8. References

9. Tables, figures, legends, and illustrations/photos on separate pages

Title Page
The title page should include (1) title of the manuscript; (2) suggested running head; (3) full name and academic degree(s) for each author; (4) institutional affiliation, including department name and city/state; (5) complete mailing address, with daytime telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address for corresponding author; and (6) acknowledgment of financial and/or other support. The title page is the only place in the manuscript where the author(s) should be identified by name. The title should be written in a brief, concise manner that accurately reflects the main idea of the paper. The running head is a shortened version of the title that should not contain the names or initials of any authors. Funding sources must be cited on the title page for manuscripts that have resulted from sponsored research and/or educational scholarships for theses or dissertations prepared by the author. Any financial interest in the products mentioned in the article must be disclosed by the author(s) on the title page as well as any compensation for preparing the manuscript.

Structured Abstract
All feature articles must include a structured abstract of no more than 250 words using the following headings:

a. Purpose (rationale for the study, hypotheses, objectives)

b. Methods (study design, setting, characteristics of the sample, intervention, data collection procedures, evaluation measures)

c. Results (key findings only, no details or statistics)

d. Conclusions (information supported by the data, implications)

In general, the abstract should be written in a brief, concise style that provides an overview of the information in the article and allows the reader to survey the contents. Use simple, concrete words and short sentences that provide factual information rather than describing what information will appear in the article. Abstracts may be published on the AADE Web site at www.diabeteseducator.org.

Text Style
Manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with the “Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals” (Ann Intern Med. 1997;126:36-47 or at the following Web address for the American College of Physicians: http://www.acponline.org/journals/resource/unifreqr.htm) and/or the American Medical Association Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors, 10th edition (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2007).

All accepted manuscripts will be edited according to the American Medical Association Manual of Style. In consultation with the author(s), the journal reserves the right to edit manuscripts for clarity, length, readability, and consistency with the style of the journal.

For spelling of medical terms, use the most recent print or electronic version of either Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary (Philadelphia: WB Saunders) or Stedman’s Medical Dictionary (Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins). For spelling and hyphenation of nonmedical terms, use Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition (Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster; 2003).

Throughout the manuscript, avoid using the personal pronouns I or we. Employ nonsexist language. Spell out abbreviations and acronyms on first mention followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. Limit the overall use of abbreviations in the text.

Throughout the text, use generic, nonproprietary names for medications and devices. At the first mention, state the generic name followed in parentheses by the trade name with the register® or trademark™ symbol and the manufacturer’s name and city/state: generic name (trade manufacturer name, city, state).

Use brief headings and subheadings to divide the text into logical sections and enhance readability. Indicate placement of tables, figures, illustrations, and photos in the text by referring to the graphic with the appropriate designation in parentheses (eg, Table 1, Figure 1) following the referent sentence.

Terminology The term diabetic should be used only as an adjective (appropriate: diabetic complications) and not a noun (inappropriate: Diabetics must learn how to monitor their blood glucose levels.). According to new recommendations about the diagnosis and classification of diabetes published in the July 1997 issue of Diabetes Care, the term insulin-dependent diabetes mellitis (IDDM) should be replaced with the term type 1 diabetes and the term noninsulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) should be replaced with the term type 2 diabetes. Also,the terms blood glucose monitoring (not blood sugar monitoring) and A1C (not A1c) should be used.

Laboratory Data All clinical laboratory data should be given in traditional units followed in parentheses by units in the metric system according to the Systéme International d'Unités (SI units). For example, a blood glucose level should be stated in the following manner: 80 mg/dL (4.44 mmol/L). Abbreviate units of measure in the text only when accompanied by numbers; units of measure should be abbreviated in tables and figures.

Acknowledgments Any assistance provided by individuals other than the authors and/or institutions or organizations should be recognized in a brief statement in the acknowledgment section that follows the end of the text and precedes the references.

ReferencesAuthors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all reference citations. Reference numbers should be typed in arabic superscript numerals in the text, outside periods and commas and inside colons and semicolons. A hyphen should be used to join a series of references.

As supported by previous research,^1,5-8,23

The data were analyzed in the following manner^9-11:

The reference list should be typed double-spaced and start on a separate sheet immediately following the end of the text. Number references consecutively in the order they appear in the text, including references cited in tables, figures, and other graphics. All references included on the reference list must be cited at least once in the text. Format the reference list according to the style shown in the American Medical Association Manual of Style. Abbreviate journal names according to Index Medicus. Inclusive page numbers must be provided (eg, 88-104) for all print references.

References to personal communication (including e-mail) may be cited parenthetically in the text but not in the reference list; include the name of the person, the e-mail address, and the date of the communication. Material that has been accepted for publication but not yet published may be cited in the reference list with the journal name followed by “In press.” Unpublished material may not be cited. Electronic forms of documents may be included in the reference list and should be cited according to the style for each type of electronic source. Following are some examples of correct forms of references:

Journal Article
List all authors if six or less; for more than six, list only first three authors followed by “et al.” Lustman PJ, Clouse RE, Alrakawi A, et al. Treatment of depression in adults with diabetes: a primary care perspective. Clin Diabetes. 1997;15:122-126.

Entire Book
Rubin RR, Biermann J, Toohey B. Psyching Out Diabetes: A Positive Approach to Your Negative Emotions. Los Angeles, Calif: Lowell House; 1992.

Book With Editor(s)
Funnell MM, Hunt C, Kulkarni K, Rubin RR, Yarborough P