Christian Brinkmann

Christian Brinkmann is a Professor at the German Sport University Cologne (DSHS) within the Institute for Circulatory Research and Sports Medicine, Department of Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports and Performance Medicine. He also holds a professorship at IST University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf. He leads the Working Group "Diabetes, Sport and Exercise" with a focus on internal medicine and preventive care in diabetes.

• Institution: German Sport University Cologne
• School: Institute for Circulatory Research and Sports Medicine
• Department: Department of Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports and Performance Medicine
• Secondary Affiliation: IST University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf

Christian Brinkmann's research centers on the interplay between diabetes, physical activity, and metabolic health. His work investigates how structured exercise, resistance training, and nutritional interventions impact glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes. He explores both clinical and practical applications, including digital tools like AI-generated exercise plans and wearable monitoring systems.

His recent publications highlight a strong trend in evidence-based practice, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical guidelines for diabetes management through exercise. Topics span from home-based resistance training to the effects of polyphenol-rich beverages combined with high-intensity training, indicating a multidisciplinary approach integrating sports science, nutrition, and technology.

His scientific contributions have been recognized through competitive awards and grants:

• Travel and Congress Grant from Hanns-Martin-Schleyer/Heinz Nixdorf Foundation (2016)
• Travel and Congress Grant from German Diabetes Society (2014)
• Certificate for Excellent Teaching, DSHS internal (2018)

Brinkmann is actively involved in academic service, including advising on research projects, serving on the editorial board of mHealth, and peer-reviewing for journals such as Frontiers in Genetics and The Journal of Nutrition. He has secured multiple third-party funded projects, including those on exercise snacks in type 2 diabetes, chronic supplementation with aronia fruit extract in pre-diabetes, and smart wearable systems for biomarker monitoring. His collaborations include prominent researchers such as Klara Brixius and Hans-Georg Predel. He is also frequently engaged in public outreach, contributing to media outlets like Der Spiegel and Handelsblatt on topics related to diabetes and sports.

He leads an active research group and is deeply involved in both research and teaching, with no indication of part-time status or retirement.