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Diabetes Researchers from Around the World Will Gather in Munich

With more than six million people affected by the disease in Germany, diabetes has become a growing health concern. From September 11–20, 2016 numerous events in Munich will be devoted to this topic. The aim is to better inform patients and lay people about diabetes and its prevention and to create a stronger international network for research.

Due to the rapidly increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus (worldwide about 400 million people are affected by the disease), the World Health Organization WHO has dedicated this year’s International Health Day to diabetes. Bavaria is also focusing on combating the disease. In September Munich will take the center stage of international diabetology while the city hosts the largest diabetes congress in the world in conjunction with numerous events for lay people and experts.

For patients and the interested public:
To publicize the topic of diabetes, on September 14th a large DiabetesMARKT will take place at Odeonsplatz in Munich. The Bavarian Health Minister Melanie Huml has assumed the patronage of the event, which is organized by the German Diabetes Foundation (DDS) together with the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) and the Diabetes Information Service of Helmholtz Zentrum München. At the various stands, market visitors will receive information on a healthy diet, exercise, stress management und innovative therapeutic approaches. In addition, experts at the stand of the DZD and the Diabetes Information Service will provide information on the latest findings of research on type 1 and type 2 diabetes and answer questions. Furthermore, interested visitors can test their diabetes risk by filling out a questionnaire and can have their blood glucose, blood lipid and HbA1c levels tested and their blood pressure measured.

On September 17th, Diabetes Patients’ Day will be held at Klinikum rechts der Isar for people with diabetes, their family members and other interested participants. The event is organized by the Diabetes Information Service, an information platform operated by Helmholtz Zentrum München which seeks to provide independent and easy-to-understand information about current diabetes research findings. At this fourth Patients’ Day, experts will report on new treatment concepts and technologies, approaches for regenerative therapies and possibilities of early detection and prevention through lifestyle changes (including a healthy diet and physical exercise).

For researchers, physicians and young scientists:

Throughout the world many scientists are intensively seeking new possibilities for improved treatment or early prevention of diabetes. A network of international research activities is extremely important to achieve this. Therefore, this year more than 20,000 international researchers and diabetologists will meet in Munich to exchange research results and to discuss new therapeutic approaches.

The occasion for this will be the world’s largest diabetes conference, the 52nd Annual Meeting of the EASD (European Association for the Study of Diabetes). The conference president is Prof. Dr. Hans Hauner (director of the Else Kröner-Fresenius Centre for Nutritional Medicine at Technische Universität München and president of the DDS). Young scientists from around the world will meet in advance of the Annual Meeting to take part in an exclusive exchange with prominent diabetes researchers at the DZD Diabetes Research School, organized by the German Center for Diabetes Research.

For the fourth time, the Helmholtz-Nature Medicine Diabetes Conference, which attracts many internationally renowned scientists, will take place in Munich. The annual meeting in the Lenbach Palais is a fixed date on the calendar of metabolism experts from large institutions such as Cambridge, Harvard or Yale. In addition, another diabetes conference will be held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: At the Islet Study Group Meeting of the EASD 2016 the participants will primarily focus on new findings concerning the insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells.


Upcoming events and further information:
September 11-12, 2016: DZD Diabetes Research School, Freising near Munich
September 12-16, 2016: EASD Annual Meeting, ICM Messe, Munich
September 14, 2016: DiabetesMARKT, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Odeonsplatz, Munich
17.09.2016: Diabetes Patient's Day, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich
September 16-18, 2016: Islet Study Group Meeting der EASD 2016, Garmisch-Partenkirchen
September 18-20, 2016:  Helmholtz-Nature Medicine Diabetes Conference, Lenbach Palais, Munich


The participating institutions:
The German Diabetes Foundation (DDS) is a non-profit, independent foundation, which seeks to combat diabetes mellitus in all its aspects. We promote scientific research as well as social projects that represent promising improvements and recognizable human benefits. We provide information about diabetes to the interested public and people with diabetes and their family members and inform the population about the disease risks, in order in particular to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. www.deutsche-diabetesstiftung.de

The German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) is one of the six German centers for health research. It brings together experts in the field of diabetes research and combines basic research, epidemiology and clinical application. The aim of the DZD is to make a significant contribution to successful, personalized prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus by means of a novel, integrative research approach. The members of the DZD are Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health, the German Diabetes Center DDZ in Düsseldorf, the German Institute of Human Nutrition DIfE in Potsdam-Rehbrücke, the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Tübingen and the Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden of Helmholtz Zentrum München at the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital of TU Dresden, associated partners at the universities in Heidelberg, Cologne, Leipzig, Lübeck and Munich and other project partners. www.dzd-ev.de

As German Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München seeks to develop personalized medicine for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of major common diseases such as diabetes mellitus and lung diseases. To achieve this, it investigates the interaction of genetics, environmental factors and lifestyle. The main office of the Center is located in Neuherberg to the north of Munich. Helmholtz Zentrum München has around 2,300 employees and is a member of the Helmholtz Association, a community of 18 scientific-technical and medical-biological research centers with approximately 37,000 staff members. www.helmholtz-muenchen.de