Polaris Dawn launched this morning with astronauts wearing the G6 to better understand the effects of spaceflight on human health. The crew intends to conduct research to advance human health on Earth and the understanding of health during long-duration spaceflights.
Dexcom G6 features a small, wearable sensor. It continuously measures and sends glucose data wirelessly to a smart device or receiver. The system delivers users accurate, real-time glucose data without the need to scan or prick their finger. Dexcom CGMs offer remote monitoring and reporting capabilities along with personalized, actionable insights.
“This health research-driven mission marks another first for Dexcom, with our industry-leading CGMs being worn by astronauts in outer space,” said Jake Leach, EVP and COO at Dexcom. “We are 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.”
More about the mission’s use of Dexcom G6
Over five days in space, the Polaris Dawn crew plans to conduct around 40 scientific experiments. That includes several aimed at better understanding the effects of spaceflight on glucose health. Labront, a platform assisting health researchers in collecting and analyzing physiological data, is collaborating with Dexcom. It plans to provide advanced analytics for the data collected by the crew.
According to a news release, the mission expects to explore how microgravity, fluid shifts, and blood flow restriction exercises impact glucose regulation.
“Glucose is a critical biomarker for understanding metabolic responses in space, and analyzing its dynamics and interplay with other physiological biomarkers will provide invaluable data for this mission’s scientific objectives,” said Dr. Andrew Ahn, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and chief medical officer at Labfront.
