More diabetics than expected Again, the number of diabetes patients is increasing

New analysis shows strong east-west divide in diabetes
More and more people are affected by diabetes in this country. This is shown by a new analysis for the supply atlas of the Zentralinstitut für die Kassenärztliche Versorgung (ZI). According to this study, nearly 10 percent of citizens now have the so-called diabetes mellitus - previous estimates had been made by about seven to nine percent of diabetics. Men and people in the new federal states are particularly often affected.

Values ​​exceed previous estimates
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease in which the hormone for the regulation of blood sugar (insulin) is no longer produced or can no longer be properly processed by the body. Also known as "diabetes" disease affects more and more people - both in Germany and worldwide. As a recent analysis of the central institute for the Kassenärztliche supply (ZI) shows, now suffers in this country almost every tenth of the disease. So far, it was assumed that the proportion of diabetics is about 7 to 9 percent, according to the ZI.

A recent analysis shows that more people than suspected of diabetes. (Image: 6okean / fotolia.com)

Share just under one percent higher than six years ago
In the new study for the Supply Atlas of the ZI, the frequency of new cases for the years 2009 to 2015 and the regional differences in prevalence were evaluated on the basis of the nationwide payroll data of the physicians. All in all, the anonymised data of 70 million statutory health insurants were included in the analysis.

It was found that the proportion of diabetics has risen overall from 8.9 percent in 2009 to 9.8 percent in 2015, and is thus becoming ever higher. According to the institute, this development is primarily attributable to an increase in type 2 diabetes from 8.5 percent to 9.5 percent. By contrast, the frequency of type 1 fell slightly from 0.33 percent to 0.28 percent between 2009 and 2015.

For the increase in Type 2, the scientists are probably responsible for the rather unfavorable way of life of many people in addition to the rising proportion of older people. Because this usually develops in old age and is favored by unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, obesity and smoking.

Men get sick more often than women
On the one hand, it is noticeable that the incidence of new cases (incidence) in men is significantly higher in almost all age groups than in women, the ZI reports. The differences in terms of regional distribution were even clearer: while the proportion of diabetics in the eastern federal states is 11.8 percent overall, "only" 9.2 percent of the citizens are affected in the West.

At district level, these differences became particularly clear: living in the circle Starnberg near Munich, which ranks among the wealthiest nationwide, with 6.5 percent, the fewest diabetics. The structurally weak region of Prignitz in north-western Brandenburg, on the other hand, accounts for more than twice the 14.2 percent share of most patients with diabetes. According to the experts, an above-average number of people also live in Saarland (10.8 percent) and Berlin (10.4 percent). The lowest shares were measured in Schleswig-Holstein (8.3 percent), Baden-Württemberg (8.53 percent) and Hamburg (8.54 percent).

Politics should take into account regional differences
Reasons why more people in the East suffer from diabetes could be the lower average incomes and higher unemployment rates, Goffrier said in an interview with the news agency "dpa". For a low social status is often associated with a less pronounced health education. Another possible explanation could therefore be certain regional dietary habits.

"Based on the predicted demographic development, we must assume that the burden of diabetes mellitus will continue to increase in the future," said the study's lead author Benjamin Goffrier, according to the statement. On the recommendation of the Head of the Supply Atlas, Dr. Ing. Jörg Bätzing-Feigenbaum, health policy makers should not neglect the East-West differences: "The development of prevention programs and care structures should take regional differences into account." (Nr)