The SCICONX Journal of Diabetes Complications and Management (JDCM) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity, transparency, and editorial excellence. Editors play a critical role in ensuring the quality, credibility, and ethical rigor of the journal.

This page outlines the responsibilities, expectations, and operational guidelines for all editorial board members, including Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Section Editors.

Role of the Editor

Editors are entrusted with the responsibility to:

• Ensure the publication of high-quality, scientifically sound research
• Maintain fairness, objectivity, and confidentiality throughout the editorial process
• Uphold ethical standards in line with global best practices

Editors play a pivotal role in shaping the direction and reputation of the journal.

Core Responsibilities

1. Initial Manuscript Assessment

Editors should:

• Evaluate submissions for relevance to the journal’s scope
• Assess originality, novelty, and scientific significance
• Identify potential ethical concerns (plagiarism, duplication, etc.)
• Decide whether to:
  • Send for peer review
  • Request preliminary revisions
  • Reject at the editorial level

2. Reviewer Selection and Assignment

Editors are responsible for:

• Selecting qualified, independent, and unbiased reviewers
• Ensuring no conflict of interest exists
• Assigning at least 2 reviewers per manuscript
• Monitoring reviewer performance and timelines

3. Managing the Peer Review Process

Editors should:

• Ensure a double-blind review process is followed
• Maintain confidentiality of authors and reviewers
• Provide clear instructions and deadlines to reviewers
• Evaluate reviewer comments for quality and relevance

4. Editorial Decision-Making

Based on reviewer feedback, editors should:

• Make fair and unbiased decisions
• Provide clear justification for decisions
• Categorize decisions as:
  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

Editors must ensure decisions are based solely on scientific merit, not on personal or institutional bias.

5. Handling Revisions

Editors should:

• Assess revised manuscripts carefully
• Verify whether reviewer comments have been addressed
• Request additional revisions if necessary
• Make final recommendations for acceptance or rejection

Ethical Responsibilities

JDCM follows the ethical standards recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics.

Editors must:

a. Maintain Confidentiality

• Do not disclose manuscript details to unauthorized individuals
• Protect the identity of reviewers and authors

b. Manage Conflicts of Interest

• Avoid handling manuscripts where a conflict exists
• Disclose any potential conflicts immediately

c. Address Misconduct

Editors should take appropriate action in cases of:

• Plagiarism
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Duplicate publication
• Ethical violations

Such cases should be handled according to established ethical guidelines.

Timeliness and Efficiency

Editors are expected to:

• Perform initial screening within 2–5 days
• Assign reviewers promptly
• Ensure reviews are completed within 7–14 days
• Avoid unnecessary delays in decision-making

Timely processing is essential for maintaining author satisfaction and journal credibility.

Quality Assurance

Editors should ensure:

• Manuscripts meet scientific and methodological standards
• Statistical analyses are appropriate and valid
• Conclusions are supported by data
• Language and presentation are clear and professional

When necessary, editors may recommend language editing or technical improvements.

Communication with Authors and Reviewers

Editors must:

• Communicate decisions clearly and professionally
• Provide constructive and respectful feedback
• Avoid personal criticism
• Encourage improvements in manuscript quality

Editorial Independence

Editors must maintain independence from:

• Commercial interests
• Institutional pressures
• Personal biases

All decisions should be guided solely by academic and scientific integrity.

Contribution to Journal Development

Editors are encouraged to:

• Promote the journal within their academic networks
• Invite high-quality submissions
• Recommend special issues or thematic collections
• Suggest potential editorial board members

Continuous Improvement

Editors should:

• Stay updated with developments in diabetes research
• Follow advancements in editorial and publishing practices
• Participate in editorial discussions and policy updates

Editor Conduct Guidelines

Editors must:

• Act with professionalism and integrity at all times
• Avoid misuse of unpublished data
• Respect diversity and inclusivity in research
• Ensure transparency in all editorial decisions

Support and Assistance

The editorial office will provide support for:

• Manuscript management
• Reviewer coordination
• Technical and administrative queries

Editors are encouraged to contact the journal office whenever assistance is required.

The success of JDCM depends on the dedication and integrity of its editorial team. By adhering to these guidelines, editors contribute to building a trusted, high-quality platform that advances research and clinical practice in diabetes complications and management.