VDBD e.V.

What VDBD e.V. does

VDBD e.V. (Verband der Diabetes-Beratungs- und Schulungsberufe in Deutschland e.V.) is a registered non-profit professional association founded in 1991, headquartered in Berlin, representing approximately 4,500 diabetes counseling and education professionals across Germany. Its primary members are Diabetesberater/innen DDG and Diabetesassistent/innen DDG, whose roles span patient education, therapy management, and interprofessional collaboration in diabetes care. The organization serves as the unified voice of the profession, operating 15 regional working groups (AGen) that deliver local networking, certified continuing education events, and member representation in every German federal state.

The association's core products include the VDBD AKADEMIE, a continuing education platform mandated by the Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft (DDG) in 2020 to issue the Fortbildungszertifikat (75 continuing education points required per three-year cycle), and DiaLife — a scientifically evaluated training program for relatives of adults with diabetes mellitus, developed with Federal Ministry of Health funding in cooperation with Universitätsklinikum Jena and SRH Hochschule für Gesundheit Gera. Supporting offerings include professional publications (VDBD-Leitfaden Diabetes und Ernährung, KE-Tabellen, Merkblätter), an eBrief newsletter distributed via CleverReach, a job exchange platform (VDBD-Stellenbörse) listing 18 active positions, and annual transparency reports under the FSA-Kodex. The technology base is a Typo3 website with Matomo analytics and CleverReach email delivery — standard association infrastructure without proprietary AI or data products.

VDBD's revenue model rests primarily on annual membership dues of €100 per member (payable annually, semi-annually, or quarterly at €25), supplemented by AKADEMIE course fees (reduced for members), publication sales (typically €4-5 per copy), sponsorships and project-based donations disclosed under FSA-Kodex, and channel sales of DiaLife through distribution partner MedTrix. Bundled benefits — professional liability insurance, reduced academy fees, and voting rights in association governance — support member retention. Beyond member services, the organization is an active political advocate, registered in the German Lobbying-Register (R002401), and participates in coalitions such as Bündnis Gesundheit (40+ health associations) and KLUG (climate-and-health alliance), positioning it as a recognized stakeholder in German healthcare policy.

Name

VDBD e.V.

Legal name

Verband der Diabetes-Beratungs- und Schulungsberufe in Deutschland e.V.

Website

https://vdbd.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VDBD e.V. is a German non-profit professional association founded in 1991, representing approximately 4,500 diabetes counseling and education professionals nationwide. It provides certification, continuing education, advocacy, publications, and a member job board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fee of 100 EUR with quarterly payment option (25 EUR four times yearly). Includes professional liability insurance, access to VDBD AKADEMIE, and reduced fees for publications and relevant journals.
2. Publication Sales: Sale of professional publications including the VDBD-Leitfaden Diabetes und Ernährung (4 EUR members, 5 EUR regular), and free downloadable resources like KE-Tables and guidelines.
3. Sponsorships and Donations: Transparency page shows sponsors and donors who provide project-based funding, published annually from 2019 onwards in compliance with FSA-Kodex.
4. VDBD AKADEMIE Fees: Continuing education platform providing training courses, with fee-based certification issuance for the DDG Fortbildungszertifikat after 75 education points.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VDBD e.V. is a non-profit professional association that provides membership services, continuing education, certification, advocacy, and professional resources to approximately 4,500 diabetes counseling and education professionals in Germany. Its core offerings include the VDBD AKADEMIE continuing education platform issuing the DDG-mandated Fortbildungszertifikat, the DiaLife training program for relatives of people with diabetes, professional publications, a job exchange platform, and 15 regional working groups (AGen) supporting local networking.

Product overview

VDBD e.V. (Verband der Diabetes-Beratungs- und Schulungsberufe in Deutschland) is a professional association for diabetes counseling and training professions in Germany, serving approximately 4,500 members. The organization's core offerings center on professional education and certification — the VDBD AKADEMIE provides a continuing education platform and issues the Fortbildungszertifikat (requiring 75 points over three years per DDG requirements) — and the DiaLife training program for relatives of people with diabetes, which is the first such program specifically designed for this target group, funded by the Federal Ministry of Health and scientifically evaluated. Supporting publications include the VDBD-Leitfaden Diabetes und Ernährung, VDBD-KE-Tabelle, Leitfaden zur Glukose-Selbstkontrolle, and the Merkblatt Diabetesberatung series. The VDBD-Stellenbörse job board facilitates job matching for diabetes professionals, while Regionale Arbeitsgemeinschaften (AGen) provide local networking and education in all German federal states. The association also issues annual reports and maintains a VDBD eBrief newsletter for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VDBD AKADEMIE Online continuing education platform for diabetes professionals, offering certification tracking for continuing education points, certificate application, and reduced fees for members. Operated as a separate platform at vdbd-akademie.de.
• DiaLife – zusammen leben mit Diabetes Modular training program for relatives of adults with diabetes mellitus, differentiated by diabetes type, with five base modules plus additional elective modules. Based on a cluster-randomized controlled trial showing significant and sustained knowledge gains and positive effects on mental well-being. Distributed through MedTrix (mtx-shop.de).
• VDBD-Leitfaden Diabetes und Ernährung Professional brochure providing guidance on diabetes and nutrition. Available free of charge for digital download; print copies available to members for €4.00 and non-members for €5.00.
• VDBD-KE-Tabelle Carbohydrate equivalent (KE) table providing KE values for common food items, available in digital form as a free download.
• Leitfaden zur Glukose-Selbstkontrolle in Beratung und Therapie Practical guideline for the application of glucose self-monitoring in counseling and therapy, available as a free download.
• Merkblatt Diabetesberatung Series of compact information sheets for diabetes professionals covering topics such as self-employment guidance, salary recommendations, and legal aspects of insulin administration training (Spritzenschein). Available for free download.
• Jahresberichte (Annual Reports) Annual reports providing retrospective views of VDBD projects, developments, political priorities, and partnerships. Available for download from 2020 to 2025, plus a 25th anniversary commemorative publication.
• VDBD-Stellenbörse (Job Exchange) Job exchange platform enabling members to post job openings and job searches, with filtering by position type, German federal state, and full-/part-time status. Currently listing 18 job openings.
• Fortbildungszertifikat der VDBD AKADEMIE Continuing education certificate mandated by DDG. Diabetes professionals must earn 75 continuing education points within three years. The certificate can be applied for online once the required points are accumulated.
• Interprofessionelle Versorgung – Rahmenempfehlungen Guideline documents on interprofessional cooperation in diabetes care teams, covering delegated medical activities for both Diabetesberater/in DDG and Diabetesassistent/in DDG, with separate publications for each professional group.
• Regionale Arbeitsgemeinschaften (AGen) Regional working groups organized by German federal state, led by volunteer members, serving as local contact points, organizing certified continuing education events, and representing VDBD at regional diabetes events. 15 groups covering all German federal states.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,500 members representing the diabetes counseling profession in Germany
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (Federal Ministry of Health)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded the DiaLife project - the first educational program for relatives of people with diabetes mellitus. The ministry's support enabled the development of modular training materials and scientific evaluation.
• Universitätsklinikum JenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for the development of DiaLife curriculum and training materials. Contributed academic expertise to the project.
• SRH Hochschule für Gesundheit GeracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for the development of DiaLife curriculum and training materials in the project funded by the Federal Ministry of Health.
• RED-InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for the development of DiaLife curriculum and training materials.
• Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft (DDG)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDDG is the medical-scientific society that serves as the provider of professional training for Diabetesassistent/in DDG and Diabetesberater/in DDG. VDBD AKADEMIE was mandated by DDG to issue the continuing education certificate. VDBD contributes to DDG's working group on Diabetes, Environment & Climate.
• KLUG (Deutsche Allianz Klimawandel und Gesundheit e.V.)minorOthersVDBD is a member of KLUG, contributing expertise in diabetes counseling to climate and health initiatives.
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft Diabetes, Umwelt & Klima der Deutschen Diabetes GesellschaftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDBD contributes diabetes counseling expertise to this DDG working group on diabetes, environment, and climate.
• MedTrixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner for the DiaLife educational program. Distributes the program through their website at mtx-shop.de for relatives of people with diabetes.
• Ute Coulmann (Rechtsanwältin & Mediatorin)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal expert who collaborated with VDBD on the 'Spritzenschein' (injection certificate) information sheet addressing legal aspects of insulin administration training.
• Bündnis GesundheitminorOthersCoalition of 40+ health organizations including VDBD. Jointly questions the GKV contribution stabilization law and advocates for sustainable healthcare reform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deutscher Pflegerat (DPR): National council of German nursing professional associations, advocating on policy and professional standards. Comparable as a larger umbrella voice for healthcare professions with similar advocacy, certification, and political representation functions, but at greater scale and broader scope.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE): German Nutrition Society providing nutrition standards, education, and certifications relevant to diabetes counseling practice. Comparable as a scientific/professional society producing guidelines and certifications, with adjacent content overlap to VDBD's nutrition guidance publications.
• Bundesärztekammer (German Medical Association): National umbrella organization for physicians in Germany, responsible for continuing medical education frameworks and professional standards. Comparable institutional role at much larger scale, illustrating the broader category of healthcare professional self-governance bodies.
• Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft (DDG): The German medical-scientific diabetes society that issues professional certifications and mandates VDBD AKADEMIE to administer the Fortbildungszertifikat. Operates in the same diabetes space but as the physician/research counterpart rather than counselor-focused, giving it a broader, more established footprint.
• Deutscher Berufsverband für Pflegeberufe (DBfK): German professional association for nursing professions with regional chapters, continuing education programs, and policy advocacy. Highly analogous operating model (membership dues, regional working groups, professional standards) but focused on nursing rather than diabetes counseling.

Direct peers

• diabetesDE - Deutsche Diabetes-Hilfe: Integrated German diabetes advocacy umbrella organization representing patients, healthcare professionals, and researchers. Comparable to VDBD in its national advocacy role, lobbying/awareness focus, and policy engagement in the German diabetes space.
• Verband medizinischer Fachberufe e.V. German professional association representing medical assistant professions (MFA, ZFA, etc.). Closely comparable in structure, mission, and revenue model: membership dues, continuing education, political advocacy, and regional working groups for a defined allied-health profession in Germany.

Others

• Bündnis Gesundheit: Coalition of 40+ German healthcare organizations of which VDBD is a member. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder advocacy vehicle shaping German health policy, but operating as a coalition rather than a single professional association.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vdbd-e-v

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VDBD e.V.