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German Center for Diabetes Research at the Science Summer Exhibition in Lübeck

Prevent Diabetes – Personal Diabetes Counseling and Interactive Information

Diabetes – what are the causes and symptoms? Is diabetes curable? Can the disease be prevented? What is the current status of diabetes research? At the DZD exhibit at the Lübeck Science Summer, June 2 - 6, 2012, scientists are answering many visitors’ questions and stressing the importance of a healthy diet and exercise.


This year’s five-day Science Summer is taking place on Lübeck’s market square and in the historic city hall. The German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) is a participant with an interactive science fair stand. In her welcome address, Schleswig-Holstein’s State Secretary Dr. Cordelia Andreßen stressed how important the topic of diabetes is for the population.
“It is very worrying that every year in Germany there are approximately 270,000 new cases of type 2 diabetes, and the number is increasing,” said Prof. Martin Hrabĕ de Angelis, Helmholtz Zentrum München, who is also a board member of the DZD. “With this exhibit we want to inform the public about the causes of diabetes. Even children and teenagers should become aware that through a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, type 2 diabetes can be delayed or even prevented.” Positive public response to the DZD exhibit in Lübeck is a sign of the lively interest in diabetes education and the need for information. Many visitors – families, teenagers and senior citizens – have visited the DZD stand to learn about ways to prevent diabetes and about the latest research findings on type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Exhibits for every age group

A hall of mirrors enables viewers to appear either fat or slender, thus demonstrating impressively that obesity can lead to diabetes. By piecing together a puzzle, children can learn the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Fascinated, the children follow what topics the DZD scientists are focusing on to maintain the body’s insulin production, which is disturbed in diabetes, and the new treatment methods being developed. Older visitors are also enthusiastic about the exhibit. They can determine their diabetes risk right there by taking the German Diabetes RiskTest® and then receive counseling on how to sustainably reduce their risk. Many visitors are also taking advantage of the opportunity to talk with DZD scientists at the exhibit and with dieticians from the Lübeck campus of the Schleswig-Holstein University Hospital about nutrition and diabetes counseling. Many of the visitors have indicated that they want to pay more attention to their diet in the future.

The exhibition is on view from June 2nd to June 6th. More information on the Science Summer can be found at www.wissenschaftssommer2012.de.