In a truly inspiring development, a recent study conducted during the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, which included Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, has confirmed that individuals living with diabetes can indeed embark on space missions.
The exciting preliminary results of this ‘Suite Ride’ research were unveiled on Friday by Axiom Space, in collaboration with Burjeel Holdings.
Revolutionizing Diabetes Monitoring in Space
This groundbreaking research unequivocally demonstrated that common diabetes management tools—the same ones used by millions daily on Earth—can effectively provide comprehensive, end-to-end diabetes monitoring from space, to ground control, and back again. This marks a significant leap forward, not only by potentially allowing future astronauts with diabetes to fly but also by offering innovative solutions for remote healthcare in general.
Building on these incredible findings, Burjeel Holdings, a leading healthcare provider in the UAE, has boldly declared its intention to work towards sending the very first astronaut with diabetes into space.
This collaborative effort between Axiom Space and Burjeel Holdings, which saw them conduct this vital research aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during the Ax-4 mission, is a testament to their shared vision.
The ‘Suite Ride’ initiative specifically focused on deploying a comprehensive suite of remote care technologies to investigate how diabetes could be effectively managed in the unique environment of space. This represents a monumental step towards making spaceflight truly accessible for individuals who, until now, would have been disqualified due to their medical condition.
Crucially, the research confirmed that both continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pens function dependably even amidst the extreme conditions encountered in space.
Initial results indicate that CGM devices maintain an accuracy level comparable to what’s observed on Earth, allowing for real-time glucose monitoring of astronauts in microgravity and seamless communication of these readings back to ground control. The insulin pens that traveled to the space station are currently undergoing rigorous post-flight analysis to ensure the integrity and stability of their formulation.
Inspiring a New Era of Space Explorers
Gavin D’Elia, Global Head of Pharma at Axiom Space, emphasized the broader impact of this work: “This is about inspiring people everywhere. A diabetes diagnosis shouldn’t extinguish your dream of space exploration. Together, we are significantly advancing the possibility of flying the first astronaut with diabetes, simultaneously unlocking crucial innovations in global healthcare.”
The Ax-4 mission itself, launched on June 25th, spanned 20 days. During this time, Group Captain Shukla and his three fellow crew members completed an impressive 320 orbits around Earth, traversing 8.4 million miles. Beyond the diabetes study, the crew successfully conducted over 60 additional research activities and participated in 23 vital outreach events.