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March 11, 2024

Other, Traveling

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Question from Maryland, USA:

If someone with type 1 diabetes were to win a trip to space, (reaching max altitude of 100,000 feet) would diabetes in the absence of any cardiovascular complications be a medical disqualifier? Would they need to remove their pump due to pressure changes?

Answer:

From: Rayhan Lal, MD, MPH, PhD

What a fun and interesting question! Dr. Rayhan Lal from Stanford University is actually working with an MIT student who lives with T1D to simulate zero gravity on insulin pumps, but it is still ongoing. He states that since there is no data about this for insulin pumps yet he would recommend injections via syringe but CGM should be fine.

I would think that diabetes should not disqualify you, but am unsure of what the policies are for the companies.