“This year, too, the information event on March 6th was completely booked with more than 200 participants,” said Professor Norbert Stefan, professor of Clinical Experimental Diabetology at the University of Tübingen. “We are currently coordinating a Germany-wide study to investigate the extent to which people with a moderate or very high risk for type 2 diabetes benefit from nutritional counseling and increased physical activity,” added DZD scientist Andreas Fritsche, professor at the University of Tübingen and deputy director of the Tübingen diabetes institute. The incidence of gestational diabetes has also increased in recent years.” In Germany each year, 300 000 expectant mothers have elevated blood glucose levels, and the incidence is rising. Women with elevated blood glucose during pregnancy have an increased risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. Even the children have an increased diabetes risk when they are older adults,” Fritsche added. “That is why within the framework of a study, we offer glucose metabolism monitoring and counseling during pregnancy as well as follow-up examinations up to ten years after childbirth.“

Our focus: research together with and for the individual
In 2009 the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) was founded at the initiative of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in Germany with more than six million diagnosed cases and probably a very high number of unreported cases. The Department of Diabetology (Medical Director Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Häring) of Medical Clinic IV of the Tübingen University Hospital has been part of the DZD from the very beginning as a founding partner.
“One reason for the inclusion of the Tübingen location was that the diabetes focus in Tübingen has existed for decades,” said Professor Häring. “In addition, we have had many years of experience in human clinical studies on diabetes prevention and treatment. Our objective has always been to bridge the gap between basic research and the application of this research to humans. This is what led Helmholtz Zentrum München to found an institute here in Tübingen at the university.”

Participation in studies
“Interested in participating in a study? If you have not yet participated in studies at Tübingen University Hospital and would like to have more information, please call 07071 29-80687 or send an e-mail with your request to stoffwechsel(at)med.uni-tuebingen.de,” said Professor Fritsche.