Diabetes mellitus is increasing dramatically in Germany

Sugar becomes a social problem

08/11/2014

In modern industrialized countries worldwide, type 2 diabetes (also called adult-onset diabetes) is now one of the widespread widespread diseases, with a significant correlation with risk factors such as unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, overweight and obesity. In Germany alone, around 6 million people already suffer from type 2 diabetes, and a significant increase in the number of cases is expected for the coming years. Opposite the news agency „dpa“ The chief physician at the Children and Youth Hospital at Bult in Hanover and CEO of the German Diabetes Aid, Thomas Danne, warns that drugs alone can not solve the problem. Here, the experts also see the policy required.

Diabetes is a dangerous metabolic disease
„Diabetes is a common disease. "In Germany alone, around six million people are affected by type 2 diabetes - a third more than 15 years ago - according to expert estimates, by the year 2035, 600 million people around the world could be affected by the malignant disease. Currently, statistically, about 750 people in this country suffer from diabetes every day, every three patients die as a result of diabetes.

In 95 percent of the cases, those affected are Type 2 diabetes. Although type 1 diabetes is much less common, patient numbers are also increasing. While genetic factors play a role in type 1, overweight, lack of exercise and stress are the main risk factors in type 2 diabetes. But also environmental pollution such as a high particulate matter emission to promote the disease, as recent data show.

Diabetes is a dangerous metabolic disorder that can cause life-threatening sequelae such as heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke and kidney failure. Early diagnosis and therapy is therefore particularly important.

Diabetes is favored by obesity
The reason for the strong increase in diabetes patients is above all the growing number of overweight people, explains diabetes researcher Matthias Tschöp from Helmholtz Zentrum München to the news agency. „We just can not get the problem under control. We still do not have anti-obesity medicines. "Tschöp is currently researching new drugs that fight obesity and diabetes at the same time. „We need medicines that are much more effective than they are today. "This is what he does with the different fat cells in the body. „There are fat cells that do not store fat, but burn it. "Tschöp and his colleagues at the Helmholtz Zentrum are trying to find out how it works „quality“ brown fat of that „bad“ white can distinguish. „We need to be able to turn white into brown fat cells - cells that store calories and convert them into cells that burn calories. "But this principle is still unclear.

Politicians, doctors and food industry need to work together
Pediatrician Danne is campaigning for a national diabetes action plan. „18 EU countries already have, Germany lags behind. "According to the physician, the plan should be bound by the interests of doctors, policy or food industry and a central diabetes registry should be introduced. „We still do not know enough about how people are being treated. "In the summer, the German government approved a national diabetes plan, according to the pediatrician.

Especially in the early detection must be much improved. „High sugar does not hurt“, reports Danne. Therefore, many affected people did not notice their illness until complications occurred.

Do not exclude people with diabetes
Despite the partially avoidable risk factors, Tschöp emphasizes that people with diabetes do not follow the motto „He is guilty "should be stamped. „There are genetic reasons for obesity, many sufferers have no chance at all with will alone. "Not every overweight person also has diabetes, but on the other hand, people who are of normal weight are also affected by the disease. „Life is not fair there, "adds Danne, adding that diabetes has become a social problem that can not be solved with new drugs alone. „Our society does not make healthy living easy, "said the pediatrician.

At the World Diabetes Day on November 14, experts want to educate about the disease and show how a normal life despite diabetes is possible. (Ag)