7.6 million diabetics More and more Germans are diabetic

Number of diabetics in Germany is increasing rapidly

In Germany, more and more people are suffering from diabetes. The number of those affected increased within six years by six percent to 7.6 million. Reasons for the increase are not only the demographic change but also an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise.

More and more Germans are suffering from diabetes

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of diabetic patients worldwide has been rising massively for years. Also in Germany more and more people are diabetic. This is also shown by the "Diabetes Altas" of the Barmer health insurance company on World Diabetes Day on November 14th.

The number of diabetics in Germany has risen by around 600,000 within five years. Reasons for the increase include lack of exercise and unhealthy diet. (Image: Kwangmoo / fotolia.com)

Reasons for the increase in the diseases

According to the analysis, a total of 9.2 percent of the population, or 7.6 million citizens, suffered from so-called diabetes in 2017.

According to the figures, this is just under six percent more than in 2013, with 8.7 percent of the population. More than 90 percent of sufferers suffer from type 2 diabetes.

"The fact that more and more people are diabetics is not only due to demographic change," explains Prof. Dr. med. Christoph Straub, CEO of Barmer in a statement.

"Unhealthy eating and lack of exercise also play a role. Therefore, it is time that the National Diabetes Strategy enshrined in the Coalition Agreement is designed and implemented, "said the expert.

Diabetes especially in East Germany

According to the "Diabetes Atlas", the highest diabetes rates in Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt last year were 11.5 percent, Brandenburg (11.3 percent), Thuringia (11.1 percent) and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (eleven percent).

The lowest rates were in Schleswig-Holstein (eight percent) and Hamburg (8.2 percent).

"The regional variations in diabetes rates are not due to different age or gender structures," says Straub.

In the last five years, however, one can observe a positive development in Saxony and Thuringia. There, the rate had fallen by 0.2 percent, while elsewhere, the affected rates have risen moderately.

Pay attention to the right diet

To prevent diabetes, one should avoid overweight or obesity and move regularly. Very important for the prevention, however, is the diet.

It is recommended, among other things, to consume a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables and legumes, rather to rely on fiber-rich foods and to prefer low-fat foods.

In addition, the diet should include a high proportion of whole grains.

From calorie-rich snacks such as chocolate you should better keep your hands off. This also applies to high-calorie drinks. Instead of lemonade or beer, better resort to water or unsweetened teas.

Especially green tea is recommended here, as shown in a study.

According to experts, fruit juices should at most be consumed as spritzers. (Ad)