Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes

Coordinators:

Andreas Birkenfeld | Andrea Icks | Matthias Schulze

The main question is how type 2 diabetes can be prevented at an early stage. To achieve this, the researchers investigate how exactly prevention works in the body. These findings are tested in studies with participants and transferred into practice. An exemplary study is the multicenter DZD intervention study “Prediabetes Lifestyle Intervention Study” (PLIS), in which people at high risk were supported through systematic lifestyle changes – with promising results. In recent years, researchers have made significant progress in the remission of prediabetes, i.e., returning to healthy blood sugar levels. Special blood analyses have also been developed, particularly in the field of lipidomics. These analyses allow to identify people who respond particularly well to a specific nutritional therapy.

The Academy focuses on precision prevention. It identifies subtypes among at-risk individuals and develops specific interventions for these groups. Both biological mechanisms and individual reactions to preventive measures are systematically investigated. The scientific basis is formed by population-based cohorts and large-scale clinical studies, supported by modern data analysis and machine learning methods. The spectrum of strategies researched ranges from lifestyle interventions and drug-based approaches to surgical procedures.

In addition, the Academy is developing risk prediction tools based on long-term population-based studies in Germany. These enable a more precise assessment of the diabetes risk at population level. This assessment is complemented by health economic analyses that evaluate the cost-effectiveness of preventive measures and thus support evidence-based integration into clinical care and public health strategies.