UAE study on diabetes heads to space to unlock new treatments

Astronauts to test insulin and glucose monitors in space, offering hope for future missions and millions of patients on Earth

A glucose-monitoring device. A UAE-backed study will see astronauts undergoing tests to help researchers understand how well certain types of blood monitors perform in orbit. PA

A UAE-led medical study heading to space could help astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes join future missions and lead to new technologies that make treating the condition easier and more effective on Earth.

The research by Abu Dhabi's Burjeel Hospital and Houston-based Axiom Space will be carried out as part of the Axiom Mission 4, also known as Ax-4. It will be launched on a SpaceX rocket from a Florida spaceport, with a target launch date currently set for May 29.

Ax-4 will include veteran Nasa astronaut Peggy Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut since 1984, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

Dr Mohammad Fityan, chief medical officer at Burjeel Medical City and clinical lead of the research, told The National that it is difficult to isolate the effects of gravity, muscle use and posture on glucose regulation, but Earth’s orbit offers a unique advantage.

“In microgravity, changes in muscle mass, fluid distribution and circadian rhythm provide a new lens, through which we can study how glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity are regulated,” he said. “This can lead to insights that are not apparent under Earth conditions such as how quickly insulin resistance may develop without regular mechanical loading of muscles, or how hormonal and cellular responses adapt in the absence of gravity.”

Type 1 and 2 diabetes

What are the tests?

The astronauts will wear continuous glucose monitors, commonly used by people on Earth, during their 14-day mission to track their blood sugar levels in real time while in microgravity.

They will follow a detailed schedule of tests before, during and after the mission to help researchers understand how well these monitors perform in orbit.

It will also test to see how insulin behaves in space by studying the drug’s exposure to microgravity and checking its strength and stability once it returns to Earth.

“These findings may help us uncover novel regulatory pathways or early biomarkers for insulin resistance, potentially leading to preventive interventions long before diabetes manifests,” said Dr Fityan.

The research aims to make space more accessible for people suffering from the disease.

Nasa currently does not consider patients with Type-1 diabetes eligible for spaceflight because of unpredictable blood sugar fluctuations and the challenges of administering insulin without immediate medical support.

The study also builds on a breakthrough from Virgin’s Galactic 07 mission in June, which proved that insulin pens can work properly in microgravity.

The Ax-4 crew from left to right: India's Shubhanshu Shukla, veteran Nasa astronaut Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Hungary's Tibor Kapu. Photo: Axiom Space

What can be achieved?

Dr Fityan said the research could also lead to new technologies such as advanced glucose monitors designed for extreme environments, as well as artificial intelligence tools that can predict insulin needs with greater accuracy.

It may also help develop medications that improve insulin sensitivity or mimic the effects of exercise, offering better treatment options for people with limited mobility.

Figures from the International Diabetes Federation show that about 783 million people, or one in eight adults, will be living with diabetes by 2045, marking a 46 per cent increase.

In the North America and Caribbean region, the number is expected to rise by 24 per cent, while in the Middle East and North African region, it is projected to increase by 87 per cent.

“The technologies and advances that could result from this project could also improve our ability to provide remote care for patients with diabetes and other health conditions on Earth,” said Dr Mike Harrison, chief medical officer at Axiom Space.