Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft (DDG)

About Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft (DDG)

The German Diabetes Association (DDG) is one of the largest medical-scientific societies in Germany with 9,300 members. Members include doctors in clinics and practices, people from science, psychology, and pharmacies, healthcare professionals, and other diabetes specialists. The DDG supports science and research, offers further and continuing education, certifies treatment facilities, and develops guidelines. The goal of all DDG activities is the prevention of diabetes and the effective treatment of affected individuals. Nearly 9 million people in Germany currently have diabetes mellitus. Approximately 1000 people are newly diagnosed daily (2022). Our mission: Research diabetes • treat diabetes • prevent diabetes. The consequences of diabetes mellitus are particularly severe when the disease remains undetected for a long time or blood sugar is inadequately controlled. The most serious long-term complications include stroke, heart attack, retinal disease leading to blindness, diabetic foot syndrome with the risk of amputation, and kidney failure. Over 95 percent of diabetes patients have type 2 diabetes. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include overweight, lack of exercise, high blood lipid levels, high blood pressure, low educational status, and genetic factors.