The future of diabetes is now! Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) was launched today to reach the International Space Station and conduct multiple research activities – one of which, ‘The Suite Ride’ is focusing solely on diabetes management. The aim of the research is to test the behaviour of insulin and continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGM) in microgravity and with circadian rhythm disruption. It is an extremely important step in enabling astronauts with diabetes to go to space. It will also lay the groundwork for managing diabetes in isolated locations such as oil rigs, deserts or rural regions.
At 7:31 am today (Wednesday, 25/6/2025, Irish time), a private spaceflight was launched at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to reach the International Space Station as part of the Axiom Mission 4. Four astronauts from Hungary (Tibor Kapu), India (Shubhanshu Shukla), Poland (Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski), and the US (Peggy Whiston, USA’s most experienced space flier) undertook a 14-day mission to live and work aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting around 60 different research activities representing 31 countries. The studies will contribute to human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences, showcasing each country’s space research initiatives.
The “Suite Ride” is an Axiom Space and Burjeel Holdings (the United Arab Emirates and Oman) collaboration and is entirely focused on the tools and treatments used in diabetes management. As outlined by Axiom, ‘the effort marks a significant milestone in the long-term goal of supporting future astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes, a condition historically deemed disqualifying for spaceflight’. Axiom Space’s multi-tiered approach aims to eventually demonstrate that astronauts with diabetes can be safely monitored, treated, and participate in off-planet missions.’ Moreover, the project aims to explore the remote care provision for people with diabetes (or other conditions) to improve diabetes care for those from underserved communities and difficult-to-reach areas across the globe.
As the mission starts today, we will have to wait to see the outcomes of this research. As outlined on the Axiomspace website, ‘Looking ahead, Axiom Space is committed to conducting future studies that will pave the way for the eventual flight of an astronaut with insulin-dependent diabetes. The successful demonstration of glucose monitoring on subjects without diabetes will next open the door to flying astronauts with non-insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes, looking to prove that all people with diabetes can one day thrive in the unique environment of space.
Based on: https://www.axiomspace.com/mission-blog/burjeel-diabetesresearch