It is with great sadness we received the message that our dear colleague, mentor and friend Kristian F. Hanssen went away on August 27. Kristian has been a leading national and international highly recognized diabetes clinician and researcher through many decades and has been instrumental to the development of clinical and academic diabetology in Norway.

He was one of the founding fathers of Oslo Diabetes Research Center and has been a driving intellectual force and mentor for numerous physicians, researchers and scientists for many decades. He was an outstanding clinician and clinical researcher based in Aker University Hospital from 1974 to 2012, loved by his patients and highly recognized by his colleagues.

His major scientific contributions stem from the studies of the detrimental effects of hyperglycaemia for diabetic late complications. He was instrumental to setting up “The Oslo Study” in the early 1980’s, showing the importance of good glycaemic control for preventing diabetic late complications. His further research concentrated on elucidating important mechanisms behind how hyperglycaemia leads to organ damage, in particularly concentrating on the advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In later years, also after his retirement from active clinical and research work, he has been engaged in researching the “virus hypothesis” in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.

Kristian had a large international network and was highly recognized in the diabetes community. At international meetings he talked to everyone and introduced his younger collaborators to many international experts. He received numerous international recognitions and prizes for his work. He served as Vice President for the European Association for the Study of Diabetes 1993-1996 and was a Council Member for the Organization 1991-1993. In 2019 he received The Norwegian King's Medal of Merit for his work due to “… life effort that can stand as an example for others”. 1n 1993 he received the Castelli Pedroli Prize (Golgi lecture) from EASD and in 1994 the Knud Lundbæk Award from the Scandinavian Society for the Study of Diabetes.

Kristian has throughout his career, been highly engaged in clinical work with patients. His widely known scientific knowledge coupled with his warm heart are highly appreciated by his many patients with diabetes whom he has helped during the years. Prof. Hanssen has always spoken clearly about necessary societal changes to obtain better prevention and care for patients with diabetes. He has engaged himself strongly with the national user organization, The Norwegian Diabetes Association, where he was the chair of the organization’s Medical Council during many years.

We have lost a giant. But those of us who had the privilege of knowing him and working with Kristian during many decades, are so thankful for all he gave to us. His everlasting enthusiasm, high spirits and humor, his enormous knowledge about diabetes, but also of science in general and politics, created a special atmosphere in all gatherings he took part. He will be strongly missed from our midst. Thank you, Kristian.

Kåre I. Birkeland
Professor

Knut Dahl-Jørgensen
Professor emeritus

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In memoriam: Professor emeritus Kristian F. Hanssen (1942-2026)