Peter A. Banks, renowned past publisher of the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) Diabetes Forecast magazine died on July 21 at his home. Mr. Banks had colon cancer.

For years and years, my parents subscribed to Diabetes Forecast. My brother had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the mid-1970s, and in an effort to gather the latest news on type 1, my parents were avid readers.

Mr. Bank's career with the ADA spanned 20 years from 1986-2006. He was named publisher of Diabetes Forecast in 1999. Over the next seven years as publisher, Diabetes Forecast circulation rose nearly 20 percent. Before that time, he also served as editorial director. In his last year with the ADA, Mr. Banks was recognized one of the 40 most influential publishers in the magazine industry by Folio Magazine's The Folio: 40.

In receiving the honor, Folio recognized Mr. Bank's metamorphosis of Diabetes Forecast from an association magazine into a pass-along phenomenon. With 2006 members-only subscriptions standing at 460,000, actual readership of Diabetes Forecast was ten times that -- over 4 million. At the time, Banks explained people were desperate for knowledge of diabetes, and pass-along readers were poorer people without good medical care. They relied upon Diabetes Forecast to deliver up-to-date news on the disease. Banks stood by the magazine's philosophy of care for people with diabetes. In 2003, he turned down nearly $1 million in advertising revenue from junk food manufacturers in the interest of the health of readers. In the past year, he founded Banks Publishing, a consulting business.

Mr. Banks is survived by his wife of 27 years, Lucy Godfrey Banks, two children, Alison Banks and David Banks, his father John Banks, two sisters and a brother. Read more about Mr. Bank's many contributions to society in the Washington Post and at Banks Publishing. Photo from Banks Publishing.