Best Endocrinology Journals (2026): Ranked by Impact and Accessibility
Ranked list of the top 12 endocrinology and diabetes journals by impact factor, acceptance rate, APC, and review speed, with guidance on placing diabetes trials, thyroid research, and obesity studies.
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Endocrinology covers a wide range of conditions: diabetes, thyroid disease, obesity, reproductive endocrinology, bone metabolism, adrenal disorders, and pituitary disease. But in publishing terms, diabetes dominates. The majority of high-impact endocrinology journals are either diabetes-focused or heavily weighted toward diabetes research. Researchers studying non-diabetes endocrine topics need to be strategic about journal choice, because the dedicated endocrinology journals with the highest IFs are often flooded with diabetes submissions. You can't just pick the highest-IF journal and expect a fair hearing.
Here's the full landscape, with honest assessment of where different types of endocrine research actually get published.
Elite tier (IF 15+)
These journals publish the clinical trials and translational discoveries that change endocrine practice.
1. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (IF ~44)
The Lancet D&E is the highest-impact dedicated endocrinology journal. It publishes major clinical trials (GLP-1 agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, insulin formulations), epidemiological studies on diabetes complications, and endocrine research with broad clinical impact. The journal wants papers that interest internists and primary care doctors, not just endocrinologists.
The GLP-1 agonist revolution has made The Lancet D&E the go-to venue for obesity and diabetes pharmacotherapy trials in recent years.
Acceptance rate: ~5-7%. APC: None. Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: Diabetes trials, obesity, clinical endocrinology, metabolic disease.
2. Nature Reviews Endocrinology (IF ~40.0)
Nature Reviews Endocrinology publishes reviews and perspectives across all endocrinology subfields. It's primarily invited content, not a target for original research. But the reviews published here indicate what topics the field considers most important.
3. Diabetes Care (IF ~14)
Diabetes Care is the American Diabetes Association's clinical practice journal. It publishes clinical trials, clinical practice statements, epidemiological analyses, and health services research focused on diabetes management. If your paper addresses how to care for people with diabetes, from screening to treatment to complication prevention, Diabetes Care is the standard venue.
ADA Standards of Care are published annually in Diabetes Care, giving the journal disproportionate citation influence.
Acceptance rate: ~10-12%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-6 weeks. Scope: Clinical diabetes, ADA guidelines, treatment trials, diabetes complications, type 1 and type 2.
4. Endocrine Reviews (IF ~22.0)
Endocrine Reviews (Endocrine Society) publishes thorough review articles across all endocrinology subfields. It's the highest-impact review journal in endocrinology after Nature Reviews Endocrinology. If you're writing a review, Endocrine Reviews is the target for authoritative, field-defining surveys of a subfield.
Acceptance rate: ~15% (mostly invited). APC: None. Review time: 6-12 weeks. Scope: Thorough reviews, all endocrinology.
Strong tier (IF 5-15)
These journals publish strong endocrinology research across the full range of endocrine conditions.
5. Diabetes (IF ~8)
Diabetes is the ADA's basic and translational science journal. While Diabetes Care covers clinical practice, Diabetes covers diabetes pathophysiology: beta cell biology, insulin resistance mechanisms, diabetic complications, and metabolic regulation. If your paper is about the biology of diabetes rather than its clinical management, Diabetes is the top venue.
Acceptance rate: ~12-15%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: Diabetes pathophysiology, beta cell biology, metabolic research, translational diabetes.
6. Diabetologia (IF ~8)
Diabetologia is the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). It publishes clinical and translational diabetes research with a European perspective. Diabetologia competes with Diabetes Care and Diabetes for high-quality submissions, with slightly different editorial emphasis. The journal is particularly strong in type 1 diabetes, diabetes epidemiology, and genetic studies.
Acceptance rate: ~15%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All diabetes research, EASD perspective, epidemiology, genetics, type 1 diabetes.
7. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (IF ~5)
JCEM is the Endocrine Society's clinical journal and the broadest endocrinology journal by scope. It covers all endocrine conditions: thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, reproductive, bone, and metabolic disorders, alongside diabetes. For non-diabetes endocrinology research, JCEM is often the top realistic target.
JCEM publishes Endocrine Society clinical practice guidelines, which drives some of its citations.
Acceptance rate: ~15-20%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All endocrinology, Endocrine Society guidelines, thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, bone, reproductive.
8. Thyroid (IF ~6)
Thyroid is the journal of the American Thyroid Association and the top specialty journal for thyroid research. If your paper is about thyroid cancer, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, or thyroid hormone physiology, Thyroid's specialized audience will evaluate it properly.
Acceptance rate: ~20%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: All thyroid research, thyroid cancer, autoimmune thyroid disease, thyroid hormones.
9. Obesity (IF ~5)
Obesity (The Obesity Society) is the top journal specifically for obesity research. With GLP-1 agonists transforming the field, Obesity has seen a surge in high-quality submissions. The journal covers obesity biology, clinical trials, behavioral interventions, and bariatric surgery outcomes.
Acceptance rate: ~20%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: Obesity biology, weight management, bariatric surgery, GLP-1 agonists, behavioral interventions.
Accessible tier (IF 2-5)
These journals publish solid endocrinology research at accessible thresholds.
10. Endocrinology (IF ~4)
Endocrinology (Endocrine Society) covers basic endocrine science: hormone signaling, receptor biology, neuroendocrinology, and reproductive endocrinology. It's the translational and basic science counterpart to JCEM's clinical focus.
Acceptance rate: ~20-25%. APC: None (hybrid OA). Review time: 4-8 weeks. Scope: Basic endocrine science, hormone biology, neuroendocrinology, reproductive endocrinology.
11. Frontiers in Endocrinology (IF ~4)
Frontiers in Endocrinology is a large open-access journal covering all endocrine topics. It provides fast turnaround and open-access visibility with a relatively generous acceptance rate. The journal is organized into specialty sections for targeted peer review.
Acceptance rate: ~35-40%. APC: $2,950. Review time: 3-6 weeks. Scope: All endocrinology, open access, section-based organization.
12. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care (IF ~3)
BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care is an open-access journal focused specifically on diabetes and metabolic disease. It's published by BMJ and provides credible open-access publication for diabetes research that doesn't reach the threshold of Diabetes Care or Diabetologia.
Acceptance rate: ~30%. APC: $2,365. Review time: 4-6 weeks. Scope: Diabetes, metabolic disease, open access.
Decision framework
If your paper is a large diabetes clinical trial, start with The Lancet D&E (highest IF), Diabetes Care (ADA), or Diabetologia (EASD). All three publish major trials.
If your paper is about diabetes biology or pathophysiology, Diabetes (ADA) is the top venue. Endocrinology covers broader endocrine basic science.
If your paper is about thyroid disease, Thyroid (ATA) is the specialty home. JCEM also publishes thyroid research within its broader scope.
If your paper is about obesity, Obesity (TOS) is the specialty journal. The Lancet D&E publishes major obesity trials. International Journal of Obesity (IF ~5) is another option.
If your paper is about non-diabetes endocrinology (adrenal, pituitary, reproductive, bone), JCEM is usually the first target. These subfields don't have single dominant specialty journals, so JCEM's broad endocrine scope works in your favor.
If your paper is about reproductive endocrinology, consider Fertility and Sterility (IF ~6) or Human Reproduction (IF ~6) alongside JCEM. Reproductive endocrinology straddles endocrinology and reproductive medicine.
Common mistakes endocrinology researchers make when choosing journals
Submitting non-diabetes research to diabetes journals when they won't fit. Diabetes Care and Diabetologia are diabetes-specific. A paper about Addison's disease or acromegaly won't fit, even if these journals have high IFs. Target JCEM or the appropriate specialty journal instead.
Ignoring JCEM for non-diabetes work. JCEM is undervalued by researchers who only look at IF. For thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, and bone research, JCEM is often the most appropriate and visible venue. It's the journal endocrinologists actually read across all subfields.
Conflating Diabetes and Diabetes Care. These are different journals with different scopes. Diabetes (basic/translational science) and Diabetes Care (clinical practice). Submitting a beta-cell biology paper to Diabetes Care, or a clinical management study to Diabetes, wastes time.
Not considering the GLP-1/obesity journal boom. The surge in GLP-1 agonist and obesity research has created intense competition at The Lancet D&E, Obesity, and NEJM. If your paper is in this space, plan for possible rejection and have alternative journals ready.
Overlooking Endocrine Society journals. JCEM, Endocrinology, and Endocrine Reviews are the Endocrine Society's three journals. They provide a natural cascade system: JCEM for clinical, Endocrinology for basic, and Endocrine Reviews for reviews.
How to use this list
Impact factor is one signal, not the whole picture. The journals ranked above vary in scope, editorial culture, and what they consider a strong submission. The right journal for your paper depends on how your study sits within the field's research agenda, not just on which title has the highest number next to it.
A paper with solid methodology and honest conclusions that doesn't quite reach the novelty bar of the top-ranked journals will fare better at the second or third tier than a round of rejections from journals above its weight class. Start with an honest assessment of where your work sits, not where you wish it sat.
Before targeting any journal on this list, verify the current author guidelines directly. Word limits, submission system requirements, and scope boundaries change. The rankings above reflect 2024 JCR data and current editorial positioning, but journals evolve.
Get your manuscript ready
Before submitting to any endocrinology journal, run your manuscript through a free Manusights scan to check formatting, statistical reporting, and reference accuracy. Endocrinology papers with complex metabolic data, multiple biomarker panels, and longitudinal outcomes especially benefit from a pre-submission quality check.
Sources
- Clarivate Journal Citation Reports (JCR) 2024 — Endocrinology & Metabolism
- SCImago Journal & Country Rank — Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- The Endocrine Society — Journals (JCEM, Endocrinology, Endocrine Reviews)
- American Diabetes Association — Diabetes and Diabetes Care
- The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology — About
Reference library
Use the core publishing datasets alongside this guide
This article answers one part of the publishing decision. The reference library covers the recurring questions that usually come next: how selective journals are, how long review takes, and what the submission requirements look like across journals.
Dataset / reference guide
Peer Review Timelines by Journal
Reference-grade journal timeline data that authors, labs, and writing centers can cite when discussing realistic review timing.
Dataset / benchmark
Biomedical Journal Acceptance Rates
A field-organized acceptance-rate guide that works as a neutral benchmark when authors are deciding how selective to target.
Reference table
Journal Submission Specs
A high-utility submission table covering word limits, figure caps, reference limits, and formatting expectations.
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