The participants’ response revealed that the first Diabetes Information Day in Munich on Saturday, March 16th was an all-round success, due to speakers’ presentations and the opportunity for direct interaction. During the five-hour event, leading scientists and physicians in the diabetes field gave short presentations about the latest findings on diabetes mellitus, followed by a question-and-answer period with the audience. Scientists from Helmholtz Zentrum München, a partner in the German Center for Diabetes Research, gave presentations at the event: Prof. Dr. Anette-Gabriele Ziegler, director of the Institute of Diabetes Research (IDF) and chairperson of Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes at TU München (TUM), Prof. Dr. Annette Peters, director of the Institute of Epidemiology II at Helmholtz Zentrum München, Dr. Katharina Warncke and Dr. Micheal Hummel, both of the IDF and the chair of Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes of TUM. During the break the speakers were available to discuss and answer individual questions.
Opportunity to speak with experts
In addition to the speakers’ presentations, information stands of the Diabetes Information Service Munich, the German Center for Diabetes Research, the Competence Network Diabetes and patient organizations provided the opportunity to talk with researchers on a one-to-one basis.
“With this event, we want to offer patients and their families the opportunity to get comprehensive information directly from expert researchers and physicians,” said Ulrike Koller from the Diabetes Information Service Munich. “Of special interest for those affected by the disease were the multicenter studies that are being carried out in the German Center for Diabetes Research. In the future these should lead to personalized measures for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus,” said Dr. Astrid Glaser, managing director of the DZD, summing up the conversations that took place at the DZD stand.
Possible vaccination strategy and lifestyle
Video recordings of the presentations are now available online at the diabetesinformationsdienst muenchen's website. The main topics included a possible vaccination strategy against type 1 diabetes and research into environmental, genetic and lifestyle-related factors for type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, presentations were also given on potential diabetes complications, new drugs to treat type 2 diabetes, current findings from nutrition research and treatment options for gestational diabetes.