Editorial: Translational Approaches for Targeting Cardiovascular Complications of Diabetes

The global prevalence of diabetes has increased over several decades, and by 2045 approximately 700 million individuals will be affected, representing a global epidemic and significant socioeconomic burden (Saeedi et al., 2019). Diabetes is a major risk factor for complications including nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Gilbert et al., 2006). In addition, diabetes can have a direct impact on the heart increasing the risk of heart failure (HF) (Kannel et al.,1974), a condition termed diabetic cardiomyopathy (DbCM). The risk of developing HF is 5-8-foldhigher in 45–65 year old patients with diabetes compared with non-diabetic individuals (Gilbert et al., 2006). DbCM is a complex disease manifesting as maladaptive changes in cardiac structure and function independent of other risk factors such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, and atherosclerosis (Rubler et al., 1972; Ritchie and Abel, 2020). Features of DbCM include left ventricular diastolic and systolic dysfunction, concomitant with cardiac oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial abnormalities and remodeling including cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and apoptosis (Tate et al., 2017; Marwick et al., 2018; Tateet al., 2019; De Blasio et al., 2020; Makrecka-Kuka et al., 2020). Current research is focused on factors and pathways that drive DbCM, to elucidate potential therapeutic approaches.