Pune: The International Diabetes Summit witnessed participation from over 2,900 doctors from across the globe at its 10th edition, organized by the Chellaram Diabetes Institute in Pune.
The three-day International Diabetes Summit featured extensive scientific discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions focused on practical strategies to address the rising burden of diabetes and its complications in India and worldwide.
The International Diabetes Summit was inaugurated by Dr. Vinky Rughwani, Administrator of the Maharashtra Medical Council, Mumbai, Member of the National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and President of the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society of India.
The ceremony was also attended by Mr. Prakash Bhoopatkar, Vice Chairman of Chellaram Foundation; Dr. A.G. Unnikrishnan, CEO of Chellaram Diabetes Institute; and Wing Commander (Dr.) Harshal More (Retd.), CMD of Chellaram Hospital.
During the International Diabetes Summit, Dr. Carani B. Sanjeevi, Professor at the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and head of the Diabetes Immunology research group at the Center for Molecular Medicine at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to diabetes research.
Speaking at the International Diabetes Summit, Dr. Carani B. Sanjeevi highlighted alarming findings from the International Diabetes Federation Atlas 2025.
He said, “According to the latest estimates, we often say that for every known diabetic, there is likely an individual who remains undiagnosed. When we compare the current figures with earlier reports, the curve has never gone down”.
Referring to the concept of “Ceiling on Desires,” he added, “In medical terms, desire can be described as pro-inflammatory, while placing a ceiling on desires is anti-inflammatory. Even when we know that certain habits are harmful to our health, the pull of desire can be so strong that we ignore all the warning signals.
Ultimately, it becomes a mind game. We must learn to exercise control over our eating habits and our desires that increase stress so as to prevent and manage diabetes effectively.”
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Dr. Vinky Rughwani, addressing the International Diabetes Summit, emphasized that diabetes remains a major public health concern not only in India but globally.
He underscored the need for a robust system that promotes extensive discussion, research, and innovation to tackle the issue.
At the International Diabetes Summit, Prakash Bhoopatkar highlighted the journey of the Chellaram Diabetes Institute and outlined the contributions of the Chellaram group in research, education, disease prevention, and awareness.
The scientific sessions at the International Diabetes Summit focused on key areas such as managing diabetes complications, delivering cost-effective diabetes care, exploring emerging advances in treatment, and leveraging technology in diabetes management.
International Diabetes Summit Hosts Specialized Workshops
The International Diabetes Summit saw participation from several eminent international speakers representing leading institutions, including the Mayo Clinic in the United States; King’s College London, Imperial College London, University of Suffolk, University of Leicester, and University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom; the Medical University of Graz in Austria; and the National University of Singapore. More than 70 renowned Indian faculty members also contributed, making the summit a truly global platform for advancing diabetes care.
The International Diabetes Summit also hosted specialized workshops on Artificial Intelligence in Diabetes and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in Diabetes.
Additionally, a symposium on Endocrinology and Women’s Health addressed emerging clinical challenges and research developments.
Over 80 young researchers presented their work at the International Diabetes Summit during the free paper sessions, competing for the Chellaram Foundation Diabetes Research Awards 2026 in Basic and Clinical Science categories, with prize amounts of ₹2,00,000 and ₹1,00,000 respectively.
Community awareness was a key highlight of the International Diabetes Summit. On March 15, around 500 participants, including adults, youth, and children, took part in the “Run for Diabetes,” a 3 km and 5 km marathon organized by the Chellaram Diabetes Institute in association with the Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation.
The marathon was flagged off by Milind Soman, who also participated and delivered a motivational talk.
