Experts answer questions about diabetes

Nationwide telephone action on 11th November

28/10/2014

Every day, nearly 1,000 people develop diabetes. In Germany, there are more than six million affected people. Most suffer from type 2 diabetes, which is not autoimmune. Problem: Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed on average 8 to 10 years too late. But how can one actually recognize the disease? Is the administration of insulin always necessary? What are the late effects and how can they be avoided? How can I best support my child in everyday life with Type 1 diabetes? Does it have to give up competitive sports after the diagnosis??

These and all other urgent questions will be answered on 11 November by nine diabetes experts from the universities and diabetes research centers in Dresden, Düsseldorf, Gießen, Hanover, Leipzig, Munich, Tübingen and Ulm. The free, nationwide hotline 0800-060 4000 is open from 19:00 to 21:00. The Competence Network Diabetes Mellitus, in cooperation with the German Center for Diabetes Research e.V., wants to meet the high counseling needs of those affected and their relatives. The phone call is already taking place for the fourth time.

Insulin syringe yes or no?
The focus of this year's action is prevention, development, treatment and consequences of type 1, type 2 diabetes. A common question in the past, for example, was from when a therapy with insulin is absolutely necessary. „This is the question that most newly diagnosed patients face“, so PD Dr. Michael Hummel from the Institute for Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, and expert in the telephone campaign. „It is by no means a blanket answer.“ On average, insulin therapy becomes necessary after approximately eight to ten years of use of the pill, since after this period the pancreas often can not produce enough insulin. Especially when the long-term blood glucose value HbA1c exceeds 7.5 percent or the fasting blood sugar levels are above 120 mg / dL, a combined therapy of insulin and tablets usually has to be used. Often, however, is then started with only one insulin syringe a day.

Do not underestimate the psychological effect of the disease
Another expert, Prof. dr. Karin Lange from the Hannover Medical School will be on hand for psychology and diabetes. In her experience, the diagnosis of diabetes means a major cut in everyday life, which also affects many people affected psychologically. „The feeling of being different, which often sets in after a diabetic diagnosis, should, however, push back those affected and reflect on their strengths“, explains the expert. This includes allowing oneself to enjoy life. The examples of many prominent top athletes with diabetes, such as the kickboxing world champion Anja Renfordt and Olympic weightlifting champion Matthias Steiner, show how high physical performance can be achieved with diabetes. Experts answer questions under the free hotline 0800-0 60 4000

Experts for type 1, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes

Prof. Dr. Andreas Fritsche, Center for Nutritional Medicine Tübingen - Hohenheim (ZEM), University Hospital Tübingen

Prof. Dr. Hans Hauner, Director of the Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich

Prof. Dr. Reinhard Holl, Pediatric Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, University Hospital Ulm

PD Dr. Michael Hummel, Diabetes Center Rosenheim and Institute for Diabetes Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München

PD Dr. Thomas Kapellen, Senior Physician of the Polyclinic, for Children and Adolescents, Leipzig University Hospital

Dr. Barbara Ludwig, Medical Clinic III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technical University of Dresden

Prof. Dr. Karsten Müssig, Head of the Clinical Study Center, German Diabetes Center (DDZ), Düsseldorf

Prof. Dr. Peter Schwarz, Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technical University of Dresden

Experts in psychology and diabetes

Prof. Dr. Karin Lange, Head of Medical Psychology, Hannover Medical School

Prof. Dr. Johannes Kruse, Director of the Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Giessen