Focuses on the various manifestations of diabetic neuropathies which considerably impair quality of life and prognosis of patients with diabetes.
Therefore, an early as possible detection of the manifold nerve alterations associated with diabetes and prediabetes as well as their risk factors which ultimately translates into specific intervention or prevention strategies are important research goals of the group. The topics of clinical research mainly include the distal symmetric polyneuropathy, neuropathic pain, cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, diabetic gastropresis, and sexual dysfunction.
The group has developed, validated, and established numerous quantitative methods for early detection and characterization of nerve dysfunction and morphology in people with diabetes and prediabetes. Within the scope of projects on the epidemiology and pathophysiology of peripheral and autonomic neuropathies the group collaborates with several national and international institutions. In clinical intervention studies, novel approaches of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy of diabetic polyneuropathy and neuropathic pain are being explored. Lastly, the active participation in the development of national and international guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic neuropathies (e.g. German Diabetes Association, American Diabetes Association) should contribute to improving the quality of patient care standards.
Aims
- To estimate the prevalence and risk factors of neuropathy in type 2 diabetes and prediabetes (IGT, IFG)
- To validate and establish screening methods for early detection of peripheral and autonomic nerve alterations
- To define the predictors and determinants of nerve dysfunction and pathology in recent-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- To decipher the mechanisms and factors contributing to painful neuropathy as opposed to painless neuropathy
Team
Selected Publications
- Bönhof GJ, Ziegler D, Sipola G, Wagner R, Roden M, Strom A 2025. Diagnostic performance of graded tuning fork vibration thresholds as a stand-alone test and within clinical assessments of diabetic neuropathy. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2025: 112224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2025.112224
- Strom A, Strassburger K, Ziegler D, Sipola G, Prystupa K, Wagner R, Roden M, Bönhof GJ 2025. Changes Over 10 Years in Peripheral Nerve Function in People With Well-Controlled Type 2 Diabetes and Those With Normal Glucose Tolerance. Neurology. 2025: e213780. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000213780
- Bönhof GJ, Strom A, Jung T, Bódis KB, Szendroedi J, Wagner R, Grune T, Roden M, Ziegler D 2025. Cutaneous Carbonyl Stress Is Associated With Nerve Dysfunction in Recent-Onset Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 48: 251-258. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc24-1799
- Bönhof GJ, Strom A, Apostolopoulou M, Karusheva Y, Sarabhai T, Pesta D, Roden M, Ziegler D 2022. High-intensity interval training for 12 weeks improves cardiovascular autonomic function but not somatosensory nerve function and structure in overweight men with type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia. 65: 1048-1057. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-022-05674-w
- Ziegler D, Bönhof GJ, Strom A, Straßburger K, Karusheva Y, Szendroedi J, Roden M for the GDS Group 2021. Progression and regression of nerve fibre pathology and dysfunction early in diabetes over 5 years. Brain. 144: 3251-3263. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab330
- Strom A, Strassburger K, Schmuck M, Shevalye H, Davidson E, Zivehe F, Bönhof G, Reimer R, Belgardt B-F, Fleming T, Biermann B, Burkart V, Müssig K, Szendroedi J, Yorek MA, Fritsche E, Nawroth PP, Roden M, Ziegler D for the GDS Group 2021. Interaction between magnesium and methylglyoxal in diabetic polyneuropathy and neuronal models. Mol Metab. 43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2020.101114
- Kück J-L, Bönhof GJ, Strom A, Zaharia O-P, Müssig K, Szendroedi J, Roden M, Ziegler D for the GDS Group 2020. Impairment in Baroreflex Sensitivity in Recent-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Without Progression Over 5 Years. Diabetes. 69: 1011-1019. https://doi.org/10.2337/db19-0990
- Bönhof GJ, Herder C, Strom A, Papanas N, Roden M, Ziegler D 2019. Emerging biomarkers, tools, and treatments for diabetic polyneuropathy. Endocr Rev. 40: 153-192. https://doi.org/10.1210/er.2018-00107
- Ziegler D, Strom A, Bönhof G, Püttgen S, Bódis K, Burkart V, Müssig K, Szendrödi J, Markgraf D, Roden M for the GDS Group 2018. Differential associations of lower cardiac vagal tone with insulin resistance and insulin secretion in recently diagnosed type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Metab-Clin Exp. 79: 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2017.10.013
- Boenhof G, Strom A, Puettgen S, Ringel B, Brueggemann J, Bódis K, Müssig K, Szendrödi J, Roden M, Ziegler D 2017. Patterns of cutaneous nerve fibre loss and regeneration in type 2 diabetes with painful and painless polyneuropathy. Diabetologia. 60: 2495-2503. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-017-4438-5
- Universität Heidelberg: J. Szendrödi, T. Fleming
- IUF, Düsseldorf: E. Fritsche
- Universität Düsseldorf: B. Biermann
- Ernst-Abbe-Fachhochschule Jena: A. Voss
- Helmholtz Zentrum München: C. Meisinger, A. Peters
- University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA: M. Yorek
Teaching Activities at Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf
- Wahlfach „Einführung ins wissenschaftliche Arbeiten“ (Strom)
- Wahlfach „Diabetes und Begleiterkrankungen“ (Strom, Bönhof)
- Wahlfach „Endokrinologie“ (Bönhof)
- Praxisblock „Diabetologie und Endokrinologie“ (Bönhof)