The cover picture shows the latest version of the semi-automated computer-based program developed by the University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI, USA) to quantify retinal arteriolar and venular calibre from digital retinal images. Using this new method, several studies have shown that changes in retinal vascular calibre are associated with the risk of developing impaired fasting glucose and type 2 diabetes, and among people with diabetes, with progression of retinopathy and nephropathy. In the present issue of Diabetologia (50:2263-2271), using an earlier version of the software, Tikellis et al. report that compared with people with normal glucose tolerance, people with diabetes have a larger retinal arteriolar calibre, whilst the presence of retinopathy is significantly associated with larger retinal venular calibre.
Cover credit: J Alessi (Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Australia).