Diabetes and Clinical Metabolic Research (Institute)

The Institute has no duties in patient care. Our patients are treated in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition at the Department of Medicine 1 (Campus Kiel). The Division is also headed by Prof. Laudes, offers a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications and is certified as a center in obesity, osteology, lipidology as well as in neuroendocrine tumor medicine.

The Institute is dedicated to research in diabetes, obesity and lipid disorders. In that regard we are mainly focusing on the cross-talk of the metabolic and the immune system, since the so called “metabolic inflammation” is a common pathology found in several nutrition associated diseases like type 2 diabetes, obesity and atherosclerosis. In terms of a translational research approach, for our research we establish large cohorts, both cross-sectional (FoCus) and interventional (KIK). In addition, we are currently in the process to develop a microbiome targeted therapy to improve metabolic inflammation and with that, metabolic control in humans.

The Institute is involved in the education (lectures and seminars) of two faculties: medical faculty and the fa- culty of agricultural and nutritional sciences. We offer projects for Bachelor- and Master thesis as well as doctoral studies in both faculties. For their thesis, several of our students were awarded with both, national and international prizes.

As a special feature for our patients we offer a day clinic for the treatment of obesity III°. In that unique facility we perform an interdisciplinary program, including nutritional advice as well as psychological as well as exercise interventions. The program is accompanied by a formula diet based nutritional intervention resulting in a loss of approx. 20-25 kg. The day clinic program lasts for 26 weeks in total, whereby the patients have to attend the UKSH once a week for approx. 4.5 hours. The obesity day clinic is part of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition at the Department of Medicine 1 at the Campus Kiel and is accompanied by scientific evaluation by our Institute.