Background
Diabetes mellitus is a noncommunicable disease of high public health relevance. In Germany, available data are currently not sufficiently used for targeted analysis and dissemination of results.
Objective
Establishment of a national diabetes surveillance system at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
Material and methods
Development of a scientific framework concept with 4 fields of action and 40 indicators based on literature reviews and structured expert consensus. Taking stock of data sources sustainably available for the description of consensus-based indicators according to sociodemographic criteria, temporal changes and regional differences.
Results
Action field 1 comprises 10 indicators for the primary prevention of diabetes. Action fields 2–4 contain 30 process and outcome indicators for secondary prevention of diabetes. Essential data sources are nationwide RKI health surveys, claims and treatment data, official statistics and the type 1 diabetes registries. First results on time trends demonstrate improvement in secondary diabetes prevention processes and outcomes at the population level. There is considerable room for improvement, particularly with respect to patient-centered outcome indicators. Data gaps and utilization barriers remain for indicators related to gestational diabetes and diabetes-associated complications. So far, analyses of social and regional differences are not always possible.
Conclusion
Establishment of a diabetes surveillance system enables systematic and continuous analyses of the epidemiology and disease burden of diabetes in Germany and serves as a decision aid for healthcare policy planning and implementation. The database needs to be continuously improved along with the development of print and online products for timely and targeted dissemination of results.