On November 13 of this year, the Heart and Diabetes Center NRW (HDZ NRW), Bad Oeynhausen, awarded the Heinrich Sauer Prize, endowed with 2,500 euros, for research work in the field of clinical diabetology.

It is important that the project aims to make a contribution to improving patient care.

The prize is dedicated to the founder of the former diabetes clinic in Bad Oeynhausen, Professor Heinrich Sauer, who is one of the pioneers of modern diabetes therapy. The renowned physician was also involved in the founding and commissioning of the Heart Centre in Bad Oeynhausen and was head physician of diabetology until 1985. He integrated patients into the treatment process 20 years earlier than other physicians. This approach of giving patients personal responsibility was revolutionary at the time. The work of Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. was selected and reviewed by Prof. Dr. med. Diethelm Tschöpe, Director of the Diabetes Center, his predecessor Prof. Dr. med. Rüdiger Petzoldt and the former head physician Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Wulf Quester.

This year, Professor Dr. rer. nat. Dipl. Psych. Karin Lange is honored with the Gerhardt Katsch Medal of the German Diabetes Society. With this award, the DDG honors her many years of scientific work in the conception and implementation of diabetes training and psychosocial care approaches for patients as well as in the training and further education of diabetes consultants DDG, diabetologists DDG and specialist psychologists diabetes. As a board member of several committees and working groups, as well as a member of international and national guideline commissions (DDG), she contributed to establishing the promotion of empowerment and the improvement of the quality of life of patients with diabetes as central therapeutic elements.

Karin Lange has been involved in several committees, working groups and guideline commissions of the DDG for many years: She is a member of the "Diabetologe DDG" committee, chair of the "Fachpsychologe/in Diabetes DDG" committee within the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Psychologie und Verhaltensmedizin", second chair of the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Diabetes und Verhaltensmedizin", member of the guideline commission "Diagnostik, Therapie und Verlaufskontrolle des Diabetes mellitus im Kinder und Jugendalter", member of the guideline commission "Psychosoziales und Diabetes mellitus" and founding chair of the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft pädiatrische Diabetologie" (AGPD).

In memory of one of the most important founders of diabetology, the German Diabetes Society has been awarding a Gerhardt Katsch Medal since 1979 to people who have made a special contribution to the well-being of people with diabetes.