New Delhi/Abu Dhabi – In a landmark step towards inclusive space travel and advanced healthcare innovation, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla will be part of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), departing on May 29, where he will contribute to an experiment that could reshape diabetes care — both in space and on Earth.
As part of the “Suite Ride” initiative, this pioneering study will examine the viability of managing insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) in the microgravity environment of the ISS. The mission aims to demonstrate that astronauts with IDDM — a group historically excluded from spaceflight — can one day safely participate in long-duration space missions.
The project is being led by Burjeel Holdings, a top healthcare provider based in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Axiom Space. No crew member will be administered insulin during the flight; instead, astronauts will wear Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) to study how blood sugar behaves under microgravity and stress. These findings will help validate real-time glucose monitoring, insulin viability, and data transmission in space.
Dr. Mohammad Fityan, Chief Medical Officer at Burjeel Holdings and principal investigator, noted that the study will collect inflight and post-flight data on how insulin exposure and glucose tracking perform in altered gravitational conditions. “Space is a proving ground,” Dr. Fityan said, “and the data we collect could help diabetics living in remote or underserved areas like deserts, oil rigs, or rural regions.”
A milestone for the project was achieved during Galactic 07’s 2024 mission, which successfully tested insulin pens in microgravity, confirming compliance with ISO standards. These results laid the foundation for the current mission.
India’s Science Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, himself a respected diabetologist, is closely watching this mission’s progress. With India having one of the largest diabetic populations globally — over 77 million diabetics and 25 million pre-diabetics — the potential benefits are far-reaching.
Dr. Lucie Low, Chief Scientist at Axiom Space, emphasized the broader implications: “This experiment is opening the door to a future where astronauts with diabetes can thrive in space. It’s also a huge step forward in making diabetes care more accessible and robust for patients on Earth.”
The Axiom-4 mission thus represents a dual breakthrough — helping to diversify the future astronaut corps while also contributing to global health equity. As the world looks toward human settlements in space, this mission will be a critical step in ensuring that chronic conditions like diabetes don’t limit who gets to explore the final frontier.
