IDM

The primary research goal of the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) is the individualized prediction of diabetes risk and diabetes prevention and its personalized therapy.

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The journal Metabolism honors Dr. Anja Schork, who works at the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases at Helmholtz Munich at the University of Tübingen and at the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), with the Junior Faculty…

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Sugar can be enjoyable, but it can also make you ill. How much sugar is still healthy? And are sweeteners really a good alternative? Eckart von Hirschhausen addresses these questions in his new ARD documentary “Hirschhausen und der Zucker”…

For the first time, an international analysis has shown that when people with prediabetes bring their blood glucose back into the normal range through lifestyle changes, their risk of heart attack, heart failure, and premature death is cut in half.…

Woman's hands checking diabetes and hyperglycemia with digital blood sugar meter.

An elevated blood glucose level one hour after the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) signals a critical metabolic state – even before prediabetes. Affected individuals respond particularly well to lifestyle interventions. This value could become a…

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Eating too many sweets or fatty foods alters the brain's hunger regulation after just a few days.

Ozempic and Wegovy semaglutide pens with pink tape measure

The October 3, 2025, issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt discussed whether GLP-1 receptor agonists, which have proven to be extremely effective in weight loss, are associated with increased muscle loss - and whether complementary therapies are therefore…

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The ARD documentary “Hirschhausen und die Abnehm-Spritze” by Kristin Siebert was awarded 2nd place at the 2025 Journalism Award.

In the program, which was broadcast on ARD on April 8, 2024, Prof. Andreas Birkenfeld, Head of the Institute for…

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If the brain no longer responds properly to insulin (insulin resistance), this can lead to overweight, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) in Potsdam and Tübingen have discovered small…

Healthcare concept with Ozempic pens and measurement tape. Pink setting emphasizes weight loss and diabetes support. Two injectors dosing pens for subcutaneous injection of antidiabetic medication.

A new European research initiative, CarePath, has launched with the goal of helping people with long-term health conditions manage their treatment more effectively and comfortably. By offering personalized tools and support, the project aims to…

Researchers from the IDM attended the 85th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), held from June 20 to 23 in Chicago, Illinois. As one of the two world’s largest diabetes conferences it brought together more than 11,000…

This year, the German Diabetes Association (DDG) has awarded the prestigious Hellmut Mehnert Project Grant to our colleague Leontine Sandforth. Named after the renowned diabetologist, the grant is awarded annually for the best-rated project proposal…

The Copenhagen Declaration developed by the Global Diabetes Forum outlines a new vision for combating the global type 2 diabetes epidemic. More than 50 experts from industrialized and emerging countries are calling for far-reaching changes in…

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Weltweit leben mehr als 800 Millionen Menschen mit Diabetes. Eine internationale Erklärung fordert nun tiefgreifende Veränderungen, um das Leben der Betroffenen maßgeblich zu verbessern.

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The third cohort of the High Potentials Program (HPP) at Helmholtz Munich launched their structured training journey this April. This competitive two-year program supports early-career postdoctoral researchers in developing the skills and experience…

The number of obese persons has grown significantly in recent decades, which presents significant difficulties for those who are impacted, healthcare systems, and those who provide treatment. The hormone insulin plays a key role in the development of…

Study shows: The brain plays a central role in the development of obesity.

The number of obese persons has grown significantly in recent decades, which presents significant difficulties for those who are impacted, healthcare systems, and those who…

Immer mehr Menschen haben erhöhte Blutzuckerwerte, Prädiabetes, eine Vorstufe des Typ-2-Diabetes. Was Prädiabetes ist, wie viele Menschen weltweit davon betroffen sind und wie man dem Typ-2-Diabetes vorbeugen kann, erklären DZD-Forschende des…

Senior woman checking blood sugar level at home

In an article in ‘Nature Metabolism’, Andreas L. Birkenfeld and Vasilis Ntziachristos discuss advances in non-invasive glucose monitoring for people with diabetes. Optical measurements through the skin are difficult because they often only show…

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The current Terra X documentary "Unser Leben – Wie es beginnt" hosted by Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim, offers a fascinating insight into the current state of knowledge in prenatal, infant, and early childhood research. A central theme of the documentary is the…

We congratulate Johanna Boeck on being awarded the DZD NEXT Medical Doctoral Thesis Stipend. As a doctoral candidate in human medicine at the IDM in Tübingen, she will conduct research under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Reiner Jumpertz-von…

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common complications of type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes may already be at increased risk of these complications. DZD board member Andreas Birkenfeld, together with diabetes specialists Paul Franks…

Through treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and combination therapies, persons with type 2 diabetes or obesity can significantly reduce their weight. But does the significant weight loss have a negative effect on…

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The annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) took place this year in Madrid from September 9 to 13, 2024. This year’s scientific program included over 1200 talks and presentations on the latest findings in diabetes…

The DZD NEXT Young Talent Program supports our young scientists within the DZD on their way to scientific independence. Young group leaders can apply with a scientific project every year. The grants are used to finance a postdoc for two years who…

Obesity overweight diabetes fitness abdomen adult background

Obese but metabolically healthy people have a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease and death compared to metabolically unhealthy people with obesity. Unexpectedly, their risk is only slightly higher compared to lean, metabolically…

Congratulations to Kerstin Kansy, a doctoral candidate in human medicine at the IDM in Tübingen, on being selected as the recipient of the DZD NEXT Medical Doctoral Thesis Stipend. As a medical doctoral candidate in human medicine at the IDM in…

Glucose and insulin molecules in the blood

Current medical guidelines recommend that people in a preliminary stage of type 2 diabetes lose at least 7 percent of their body weight in order to prevent manifest diabetes. In an article in “Nature Reviews Endocrinology,” diabetes experts Prof.…

Clinical scientists from the IDM in Tübingen raised awareness about the importance of diabetes prevention and the early detection of prediabetes in the city center on June 28, 2024. Numerous people took part in the free education and testing campaign…

We are delighted to congratulate Vitoria Minelli-Faiao, a doctoral student at the IDM in Tübingen, on her selection as a recipient of the German Diabetes Association (DDG) Doctoral Scholarship. Her research will take place under the supervision of…

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The clinical study center manages all clinical studies of the IDM according to the regulations of the German pharmaceutical law (Arzneimittelgesetz-AMG) and Medical Associations Professional Code of Conduct (Berufsordnung, BO).

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Our scientific focus is on beta cell function and failure: the role and molecular mechanisms of fat overload and FFA signaling.

Other research topics include cross-organ conversations: interactions of islet cells with liver - adipose tissue - brain.

We are the laboratory analytical core facility of the German Health Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) and are active at the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM).

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Prof. Andreas Birkenfeld

Director of the Institute of Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) Helmholtz Munich at the University Hospital Tübingen

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Prof. Dr. Hubert Preissl

Administrative Director

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Prof. Dr. Andreas Fritsche

Deputy Director

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Prof. Dr. Norbert Stefan

Head of Section

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Prof. Dr. Stephanie Kullmann

Deputy Head of Section

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Prof. Dr. Reiner Jumpertz-von Schwartzenberg

Group Leader, Physician Scientist

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Prof. Dr. Cora Weigert

Head of Section, Scientist

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Prof. Dr. Andreas Peter

Group Leader, Physician Scientist

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Prof. Dr. Dr. Fritz Schick

Group Leader, Scientist

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Prof. Dr. Jürgen Machann

Senior Scientist

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Dr. Julia Sbierski-Kind

Group Leader, Physician Scientist

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Dr. Estela Lorza Gil

Group Leader, Scientist

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PD Dr. Felicia Gerst

Group Leader, Scientist

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Dr. Gencer Sancar

Group Leader, Scientist

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Prof. Dr. Rainer Lehmann

Group Leader, Scientist

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Prof. Dr. Ferruh Artunc

Group Leader, Physician Scientist

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Prof. Dr. Dorothea Siegel-Axel

Scientist

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With the Tübingen Risk Cluster Tool of the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen, you can find out which risk group (Tübingen Risk Cluster) you belong to. The basis for the calculation is our published data in (Nature Medicine 27, 49-57, 2021).

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Gallwitz, B. ; Aberle, J. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Kellerer, M. ; Klein, H.H. ; Landgraf, R. ; Müller-Wieland, D. ; Müssig, K. ; Nauck, M.A. ; Siegel, E. ; Szendrödi, J. ; Wiesner, T.

Therapie des Typ-2-Diabetes.

Marx-Schütt, K. ; Forst, T. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Zirlik, A. ; Müller-Wieland, D. ; Marx, N.

Diabetes mellitus und Herz.

Parhofer, K.G. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Krone, W. ; Lehrke, M. ; Marx, N. ; Merkel, M. ; Marx-Schütt, K. ; Zirlik, A. ; Müller-Wieland, D.

Lipidtherapie bei Patienten mit Diabetes mellitus.

Narayan, K.M.V. ; Global Diabetes Forum (2024) (Birkenfeld, A.L.)

Copenhagen Declaration: A transformative vision for global diabetes.

Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Perreault, L. ; Schmidt, M.I. ; Schwarz, P.E.H. ; Zoungas, S. ; Gong, Q. ; Chan, J.C.N. ; Mohan, V. ; Tuomilehto, J. ; Bergman, M.

Defining prediabetes remission as a distinct prevention endpoint.

Vazquez Arreola, E. ; Gong, Q. ; Hanson, R.L. ; Wang, J. ; Sandforth, L. ; He, S. ; Sandforth, A. ; Qian, X. ; Giacca, M. ; Bornstein, S.R. ; Fritsche, A. ; Stefan, N. ; Preissl, H. ; Gregg, E.W. ; Marx, N. ; Jumpertz von Schwartzenberg, R. ; Li, G. ; Birkenfeld, A.L.

Prediabetes remission and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality: Post-hoc analyses from the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcome study and the DaQing Diabetes Prevention Outcome study.

Wang, Y. ; Ram, J. ; Bianchi, C. ; Fiorentino, T.V. ; Kim, S.S. ; Kim, J. ; Ryang, S. ; Del Prato, S. ; Sesti, G. ; Sandforth, L. ; Preissl, H. ; Jumpertz von Schwartzenberg, R. ; Stefan, N. ; Fritsche, A. ; Ha, J. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Bergman, M.

Superiority of 1 h plasma glucose vs fasting plasma glucose, 2 h plasma glucose and HbA_1c for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Mann, J.F.E. ; Marx, N. ; Deanfield, J.E. ; Emerson, S.S. ; Inzucchi, S.E. ; McGuire, D.K. ; Mulvagh, S.L. ; Pop-Busui, R. ; Poulter, N.R. ; Engelmann, M.D.M. ; Hovingh, G.K. ; Belmar, N. ; Idorn, T. ; Jeppesen, O.K. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Amod, A. ; Mankovsky, B. ; Desouza, C. ; Gorgojo-Martinez, J.J. ; Arechavaleta, R. ; Tu, S.T. ; Buse, J.B.

Impact of oral semaglutide on kidney outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes: Results from the SOUL randomized trial.

Sehgal, R. ; Haacke, N. ; Maguolo, A. ; Solari, F.A. ; Jähnert, M. ; Gottmann, P. ; Nilsson, E. ; Vaag, A. ; Fischer-Posovszky, P. ; Werberger, A. ; Birkenfeld, A.L. ; Fritsche, A. ; Häring, H.-U. ; Sickmann, A. ; Vogel, H. ; Ling, C. ; Ouni, M. ; Schürmann, A.

Adipose tissue-derived microRNAs as epigenetic modulators of type 2 diabetes.

Tao, R. ; Stöhr, O. ; Tok, O. ; Andres-Hernando, A. ; Qiu, W. ; He, B. ; Wang, C. ; Grøntved, L. ; Burant, C.F. ; Hui, S.T. ; Lanaspa, M.A. ; Stefan, N. ; Copps, K.D. ; White, M.F.

Fructose and follistatin potentiate acute MASLD during complete hepatic insulin resistance.