The conference is organized together with the German Diabetes Community #dedoc°. Its aim is to foster interdisciplinary exchange on the future of nutrition, health, and medical care. Experts from science, healthcare, technology, and policy engage in discussions with people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes.
Focus on diabetes prevention: Why action Is needed now
In his keynote “Diabetes in the 21st Century: Why Prevention, Nutrition, and Care Need a New Approach”, Prof. Peter Schwarz, Head of the International Diabetes Federation and DZD researcher, highlighted the global dynamics of the disease.
In the Middle East/North Africa region, one in six adults is already affected by diabetes. Case numbers there could rise from the current 85 million to as many as 163 million by 2050. A sharp increase is also expected in sub-Saharan Africa—from about 25 million today to roughly 60 million people with diabetes by midcentury.
Schwarz emphasized that the development of type 2 diabetes often begins decades before diagnosis. Visceral fat and fat accumulation in the liver, in particular, impair glucose tolerance. Early prevention through physical activity and healthy nutrition is therefore essential. He advocated for a life course-oriented approach to prevention and care.
Detecting and treating type 1 diabetes early
In a stage discussion, Bastian Niemeier (YouTuber “Diabetes ohne Grenzen” and CEO of SugrSugr GmbH) spoke with health influencer Kathi Korn and Prof. Dr. Peter Achenbach, Deputy Director of the Institute for Diabetes Research (IDF) at Helmholtz Munich, about progress in T1D research and its translation into practice.
Achenbach explained that T1D is an autoimmune disease that only later manifests as a metabolic disorder. Thanks to modern screening methods, autoantibodies targeting insulinproducing cells in the pancreas can be detected long before symptoms appear. This enables:
- the prevention of dangerous metabolic derangements
- timely education for children and parents on managing the disease
- early treatment interventions that help preserve remaining insulin producing cells
Through the Fr1da study, parents in many German federal states can already have their children tested for T1D free of charge. Kathi Korn, who lives with type 1 diabetes herself, underscored the high value of early detection but called for greater public awareness: “Many people don’t even know that this option exists. Yet you can take action early—before symptoms appear.” She also plans to have her own children tested.
These were just two highlights from the diverse conference program, which featured stimulating discussions and exchanges between experts from different institutions and people living with chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
