From Innovation to Access: The Future of Diabetes Care
ATTD-ASIA 2026 | Expert Interviews
Dr. Viswanathan Mohan
President & Chief of Diabetes Research, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation,
Chairman & Chief Diabetologist, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, India
With more than five decades of experience in diabetes care, Dr. Mohan reflects on the evolution of diabetes technology, the challenges of making innovations accessible worldwide and the breakthroughs that could transform the future of treatment. From continuous glucose monitoring and AI-powered care to emerging therapies for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, this conversation explores why scientific progress must go hand in hand with affordability and access.
What first drew you to diabetes technology and innovation in care, and what has kept you passionate about this field?
I have been working in the field of diabetes for over 50 years, since I joined my father, the late Prof. M. Viswanathan, who is considered the Father of Diabetology in India.
Throughout my career, I have worked on various innovations while striving to adopt the latest advances in diabetes science and technology. These technologies are evolving rapidly, and unless we keep pace, we risk becoming outdated.
For example, I have witnessed glucose monitoring evolve from urine glucose testing to blood glucose testing, glycated haemoglobin measurement, continuous glucose monitoring and now continuous glucose and ketone monitoring.
Advances in technology and innovation should be adopted quickly and made affordable if their benefits are to reach the wider population.
Diabetes technology is evolving at an extraordinary pace. Which developments do you believe have the greatest potential to make a meaningful difference to people living with diabetes?
There are several exciting developments, but I would place continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) at the top of the list, alongside automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, AI-powered retinal cameras and the use of artificial intelligence in precision diabetes care.
All of these innovations have the potential to make meaningful differences in the lives of people living with diabetes.
Where do you see the biggest gaps between the latest evidence and innovations in diabetes care and what is currently happening in everyday clinical practice?
The greatest gap is between the “haves” and the “have-nots”, those who can afford new treatments and technologies and those who cannot. This is particularly concerning in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where approximately 80% of people with diabetes live.
Let me give you two examples.
Automated insulin delivery systems can transform the lives of people with type 1 diabetes, yet they remain unaffordable for more than 90-95% of people with type 1 diabetes living in LMICs.
Another example is the monoclonal antibody teplizumab, which is now being used in developed countries to delay the onset of clinical type 1 diabetes in individuals with stage 2 disease. However, its high cost means that it has not been introduced in most LMICs.
GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists have transformed the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but they remain unaffordable for many people in LMICs where generic alternatives are not available.
Even with the introduction of generics in India, where we now have around 40 companies producing generic versions of semaglutide, these treatments remain expensive for many people who must pay out of pocket.
How can education and initiatives such as the ATTD Education Portal and Congress help clinicians translate new evidence and technologies into their day-to-day practice?
Another important gap is that many doctors and healthcare providers are not sufficiently aware of emerging evidence and new technologies in diabetes care.
This is where the ATTD Education Portal and Congress can play an important role.
These educational initiatives help clinicians and healthcare professionals stay up to date with the latest scientific evidence and technological developments, while also providing opportunities to learn how to apply them in everyday clinical practice.
Looking ahead, what development or change in diabetes care are you most excited about, and why?
In type 2 diabetes, triple GLP-based agonists may completely change the way we treat the condition.
In type 1 diabetes, research into producing insulin-producing islet cells (beta cells) from stem cells is progressing well, bringing us closer to the possibility of a cure.
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