Dexcom CGM Worn in Space for the First Time!

Astronauts are taking their diabetes tech to new heights—literally! For the first time ever, the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system is being worn in space as part of the Polaris Dawn mission.

Launched on September 10, 2024, the mission aims to explore how spaceflight affects human health, including blood-sugar levels.

During their five days orbiting Earth, the crew will run about 40 scientific experiments, with several focused on glucose health. Using the Dexcom G6, scientists hope to understand how being in space impacts glucose regulation, which could help future space travelers—including those with diabetes.

Jake Leach, COO at Dexcom, shared, “As the pioneer in glucose sensing, Dexcom has been responsible for bringing almost every major ‘first’ to market for the CGM category.

Leach adds that Dexcom is “thrilled” to play a role in building a future where people with diabetes are empowered to accomplish anything they set their minds to—including the possibility of exploring outer space—without being held back by their condition.

This groundbreaking research will use advanced analytics to study glucose dynamics in space, shedding light on how microgravity and other factors affect the human body. The mission is a big step forward in making space exploration more accessible to everyone, including those with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll be monitoring your blood sugar on Mars!

WRITTEN BY Daniel Trecroci, POSTED 09/10/24, UPDATED 09/10/24

Dan has written about diabetes for more than 20 years. He was one of Diabetes Health's first recruits, and throughout his 10 + years as Managing Editor he wrote/published thousands of articles and helped establish Diabetes Health as the premiere resource for people with diabetes. He later became the Content Manager for OneTouchGold—Johnson & Johnson/LifeScan’s official digital publication for its metering-technology customers. Under his leadership, OneTouchGold received the Web Marketing Association’s award for “Best Health & Wellness" web site. Dan has also written for the Diabetes Research Institute, dLife, diaTribe, Healthline, CareDx, Pendulum Therapeutics, and Hero Bread.