Traveling with a Diabetic Child.

[Caribbeanprincess]

So we're traveling with my 10 year old nephew this June whom is a type 1 diabetic. We have a handicap permit for him to use at parking lots and such, he can't be out in the heat for very long because he can easily have a blood sugar lowage and such. We're wondering if we could use his handicap permit to skip the line and go in through the handicap line? I'm not sure for whom exactly the handicap line is so I wanted to ask here before instead of just showing up there and having to go back to stand-by.
Just wondering.

Any other tips for traveling to WDW with a diabetic child are welcome.

:goodvibes

[jewelsangel]

Disney does its best to accommodate guests with disabilities, special conditions. As soon as you arrive to each park you are going to, visit Guest Relations and get a "Guest Assistance" card. You won't be able to skip lines necessarily, but your party will be directed to a place based on the child's needs....which sounds like he can't be in the heat too long. Research rides that do and don't have the separate entrances. For the ones that don't you might want to plan your travel so that you go early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun is not at its peak and when lines tend to be shorter (for certain rides).

[HappyDznyCamper]

Depending on when you are traveling, the lines may be the least of your problems as far as heat goes. The parks involve a lot of walking outdoors, so plan accordingly. Breaks during the hotest part of the day are a good idea for everyone, EMH, either early or late will also help. A touring plan such as tour guide mike, will also help to reduce your line time. Many lines are out of direct sun and some have fans or even AC, so again, the actual lines may not be your biggest problem, walking between the lines might be.

[pudge the fish]

please understand that Lines are normally NOT the problem - take advantage of Fast passes and a GOOD touring plan
the Problem is Florida in June is HOT and can mess w/ sugar his & lows a lot.

even with a GAC you have to wait - my Friend in a WC waited 40 minutes for toy story mania as there were many WC- EVC- GAC's ahead of her
also at jungle cruise the wait was 35 minutes ( or so), we waited quite a bit in lines even tho she had a GAC and was in a WC.
It can take 15 minutes to get from Frontier land to Tomorrow land in a crowd

fast passes worked better- Most lines are under a canopy and there are fans/ misters in many lines.

make arrangements for the day as it is HOT in the sun- places like Epcot have very little shade and it is over a mile around world showcase - very little shade.
Hollywood studios - Very little shade- MK very little shade

Disney is HUGE- Parks are big -Florida is hot in June-
I would suggest a sun shade of some type , BIG hat:)
one of those neck wraps that keep you cool, lots to drink, early mornings- late afternoons/evenings and a good touring plan and have a wonderful trip:)

(Maggie & I posted at about the same time:)

[Caribbeanprincess]

Thank you for the advice everyone. :goodvibes

[Eeyores Butterfly]

HI CP!

The GAC will not let you skip the line. In fact, in many cases the wheelchair entrance has a longer wait than the standby entrance. Fastpass is your friend. Use it whenever you can. Get to the parks early and do the "E-ticket" (popular) attractions before it gets hot. Plan to go back to the hotel during the worst of the heat or find something you can do indoors (maybe schedule table service meals so you have a nice long break, of course, this will depend on the type of regimen he is on and whether or not he needs consistent meal times.)

Other ways for him to beat the heat include renting a stroller or wheelchair. The great thing about the stroller is that the ones at the park have a little cover that will keep the sun off of him, although a ten year old may not be comfortable with a stroller. This will cut down on the walking and subsequent overheating. Even renting a park wheelchair would help a lot. If you use a stroller make sure to request the stroller as a wheelchair GAC so that you can bring it through the lines with you. The great about this is that if he goes low in line he has a place to sit and you can treat it there without leaving the line. By the time you get to the front he may be perfectly fine. (Again, that will depend on just how low he is and his particular regimen).

If you do have to leave the line, inform a CM and we will make sure you don't have to go all the way back through the line. I have done that for families for a variety of reasons. A hat with a wide brim, sunblock, a misting fan, one of those neck things that you immerse in cold water, all those can help beat the heat.

I'm sure your sister/brother knows this already, but make sure to have some easily transportable low sugar solutions. Glucose gel is good for when you are feeling nauseated while low and can't seem to choke things down, but the tubes are single serving and take up space, same thing with the little drinks. My personal favorite is glucose tabs because one tube can be 2 and half to 3 servings depending on how many you use to correct. Since he is on insulin there is a good possibility that his parents have Glucagon shots which are another good way to treat.

[Selket]

My younger son has type 1 and we've been doing WDW with him since he was dx'd at 2 yrs old.

There is A LOT of info about touring WDW with type 1 in the FAQ for this board. There is one absolute MUST read which is: http://allears.net/pl/diabetes.htm

We have gotten a GAC for our son and it is helpful when it is really hot - we do have quite a few problems with fluctuations in his blood sugar. The absolute best way to avoid problems is a good touring plan and we've used Tour Guide Mike (discount code is offered through the Theme Park board here). He suggests the best days to visit what parks and how to tour the parks without standing in lines no matter what time of year.

There is a lot of info about GAC's in the FAQ also but note that you cannot just say "my kid has type 1" or whatever the medical diagnosis is. An adult would need to explain to the CM what accommodations are necessary - what the child needs to experience the attractions. I suggest getting the GAC at the MK - I've had wonky experiences in other parks (maybe just my luck). The MK staff seem about 2000% more professional.

Have a wonderful trip!:thumbsup2

[MomofLogan&Evan]

I'm also a parent of a type 1 diabetic (he is 3 years old and was diagnosed at 15 months). The GAC is a must for him to have.

The only other different advice I would give you is that only your nephew and up to 5 people can use the GAC. That's all. Everyone else will have to go through the normal line or meet up with him later.

[Belle & Ariel]

When my son was 10, there is no way he would have sat in a wheelchair or stroller. I doubt your nephew will go along with that and he probably does not need one--diabetes is NOT a handicap.
We bring several juice pouches like Capri Sun. They are a great simple sugar. My son does not really like the glucose tablets because he prefers the chance at real sugar. I count/measure Skittles or Starburst into 15 carb servings and put in the snack size Ziploc bags. Gummy worms and fruit snacks are a good simple sugar also. He also has a few snacks throughout the day. It is important to bring your own because you do not want to find a need for a quick sugar fix and find really long lines to buy soda or food.
We have to remind our son to check blood sugar more often as he does not "feel" the lows when the day's activities distract him. Make sure you have glucagon.
You can dispose of used needles at all the parks' first aid locations.
I would also encourage that you do not treat this as a disability or handicap. A diabetic child does not need handicapped parking or to skip lines. If this policy is abused by people who do not need it, people who are truly handicapped might not get what they need.

[Caribbeanprincess]

We don't intend to 'skip' all lines. We'd just like to make the wait smaller if possible in the handicap lines when they're outside, we can do indoors lines just find. My nephew won't need a stroller though, first of he doesn't fit in one anymore and there's no way he'd seat in a wheelchair all day. I do believe diabetes is a handicap in some extreme cases, especially when my nephew can be absolutely fine one moment and then be on the floor and extremely tired the next. So in this case I believe a GAC will be needed in certain circumstances.

[SueM in MN]

As was already posted, there are no 'passes' that will allow you to skip lines. The Guest Assistance Card can help somewhat, but as was pointed out, the biggest problem is not likely to be the lines, but the walking around from place to place. There is more information about Guest Assistance Cards (GACs) in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board (you can follow the link in my signature to get there).

[Selket]

I would rather not see the thread turn into a debate on whether type 1 diabetes is a disability or handicap. A person with the same medical condition can have very different challenges than a person with the same condition.

Some people coming to the annual Children with Diabetes conference held at Disney World in July get a GAC and they recommend this for its use:


The Guest Assistance Card is for people who require medical accommodations of some sort while in the Disney parks. In the case of kids with type 1 diabetes, hot temperatures can make insulin (particularly in pump cartridges and tubing) less effective or ineffective, plus the heat can cause highs and lows for kids individually. So, it is important to minimize the time standing in long, hot lines. The Guest Assistance Card is not a carte blanche to the front of the line or the disability entrance. Rather, it addresses the specific need to not wait in the heat. The rule of thumb suggested for CWD families in the park for outdoor attractions, is to use the card if the temperature is over 80 degrees and the line is longer than 30 minutes.

[SueM in MN]

I would rather not see the thread turn into a debate on whether type 1 diabetes is a disability or handicap. A person with the same medical condition can have very different challenges than a person with the same condition.

Some people coming to the annual Children with Diabetes conference held at Disney World in July get a GAC and they recommend this for its use:


The Guest Assistance Card is for people who require medical accommodations of some sort while in the Disney parks. In the case of kids with type 1 diabetes, hot temperatures can make insulin (particularly in pump cartridges and tubing) less effective or ineffective, plus the heat can cause highs and lows for kids individually. So, it is important to minimize the time standing in long, hot lines. The Guest Assistance Card is not a carte blanche to the front of the line or the disability entrance. Rather, it addresses the specific need to not wait in the heat. The rule of thumb suggested for CWD families in the park for outdoor attractions, is to use the card if the temperature is over 80 degrees and the line is longer than 30 minutes.
I think this brings up a very good point that most people don't think about.

There have been posts where people write about GACs as a 'perk' of having a disability or write about using the accessible entrances as 'perks' of having a wheelchair or ECV (most of those posts are not on this board).

Many people think of the GAC as a 'disability card' that people get just because they have a disability.
That is not what it is at all.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that businesses and public facilities provide reasonable accommodations to meet the needs someone has related to a disability. That is what Selket is talking about.

Some of the reasonable accommodations are very visible - things like ramps, elevators, handicapped seating areas for parades, ride cars with ramps like on Small World, sign language translators, closed and captioning.

Some are less visible, like reflective captioning or ride cars like those on Aladdin, Toy Story Mania and Triceraptop Spin that can be used with seats for guests who don't have wheelchairs and with the seat removed for people who need to bring a wheelchair on board.

Some are available for all guests - like using Fastpass, planning boards in each park that tell the current waits for attractions, curb cuts for sidewalks, roofed waiting areas and some of the outdoor attractions even have air conditioned queues (yes, even outdoors).

Sometimes the reasonable accommodation is for the guest to use a wheelchair or ECV since it is not reasonable for Disney to provide seating areas for all of the lines where people walk slowly and/or stand for a while. Disney's responsibility in this would be to provide accessible places where the wheelchair can be used.

The ADA is very specific that it does not provide accommodations based on the disability or condition. That is because (as Selket mentioned,) people with the very same condition can have very different needs.
And, in fact, the same person can sometimes have very different needs
based on things like the weather:
- High temperature will be a problem in summer, but not in February when the temperature is likely to not hit the 80s and that person may not need a GAC in February, but really need one in July.

or their condition at the time:
- My SIL has MS, had a flare right before going on a trip and was actually on IV steroids until the day before the flight to Orlando. He was prepared to use an ECV if needed. On another trip, without a flare, he may not have needed any accommodation.
- A child with diabetes or someone recently diagnosed may not be aware of/able to anticipate highs and lows. After they have more experience in dealing with diabetes in the heat, they may be better able to deal with it and not require any accommodation.

The ADA states that someone can't be asked to prove their disability/condition in order to get accommodations based on their needs. Under the ADA is the responsibility of the person with a disability to be able to explain what they need. If you just say "I am diabetic" or "I have diabetes", there is no requirement under the ADA for them to figure out what that means in terms of needs. If you have needs, it's up to you to explain them so that reasonable accommodations can be made. If you don't, they can't meet your needs and have no responsibility to provide anything other than the obvious things.

The GAC is the way that Disney meets some of the invisible needs that are not easy to meet by the 'visible' accommodations. That's all it is, nothing more.
For whatever type of disability/condition the person has, the GAC is just a way to try to provide some additional reasonable accommodations to meet needs related to the disability.
Because people have different needs, not all GACs are the same. YOUR GAC will have messages stamped on it to meet YOUR needs.

IF Disney wanted to, they could offer a GAC that allows front of the line access for disabilities.
IF they did that, the ADA would allow them to require proof that someone needs that level of accommodation. The reasoning is that it would be over and above reasonable accommodation and/or would be a something of 'value' that is desired by people without disabilities. That is the reasoning behind requiring proof for things like handicapped parking permits and reduced rate entry for things like National Park entry.

[tami82]

My daughter will be 5 and we will be going to Disney in August. I do plan on getting the assistance card. What people dont realize with the diabetes is also if the blood sugar is running high that it means very frequent bathroom trips. My daughter is constantly going to the bathroom. I cant imagine having to wait in a big big line and us being in the middle of it and her having to go to the bathroom. We would have to get out of the line use restroom and return to start from beginning. For the most part BS are ok and it shouldnt be a problem if i make frequent stops before going on the rides. Then again if my child is high which is a regular occurance in the mornings after breakfast and have trouble getting them down it can become a real problem especially with the bathroom usage. Low BS is also a problem but i would be prepared for that.
I wouldnt use it all the time but if i see a big line and we have had a bad morning i will not hesitate to use it.

[KPeveler]

My daughter will be 5 and we will be going to Disney in August. I do plan on getting the assistance card. What people dont realize with the diabetes is also if the blood sugar is running high that it means very frequent bathroom trips. My daughter is constantly going to the bathroom. I cant imagine having to wait in a big big line and us being in the middle of it and her having to go to the bathroom. We would have to get out of the line use restroom and return to start from beginning. For the most part BS are ok and it shouldnt be a problem if i make frequent stops before going on the rides. Then again if my child is high which is a regular occurance in the mornings after breakfast and have trouble getting them down it can become a real problem especially with the bathroom usage. Low BS is also a problem but i would be prepared for that.
I wouldnt use it all the time but if i see a big line and we have had a bad morning i will not hesitate to use it.

I am not sure how a GAC could help you, unless there is a GAC to allow you to rejoin a line you have to leave. A GAC will not make the wait shorter, so it may be that it is not as helpful as you hope. Have you done disney with a GAC for this before? I ask because i have neuro problems which lead to wonky insulin production, as well as different neuro problems which prevent me from knowing ahead of time when i have to use the bathroom (i get about a 1-2 minute warning). I would be interested to hear how a GAC helps in these situations!

[Eeyores Butterfly]

A GAC would not help in those situations since as mentioned the GAC does not shorten wait times. The best thing to do is get a touring strategy, take frequent bathroom breaks before getting in line, and use FastPass when possible. If you have to take her to the bathroom, you can keep one person in line and rejoin them. Just inform the CM. We do not encourage this habit, but we do realize things happen. People do this everyday. If there is not somebody who can wait in your spot, talk to the CM and they will make accommodations to get you back in line in some way shape or form so you don't have to start from the end. I have done this many times.

[BCholly]

My daughter who is 11 was just diagnosed with type 1 on March 17.
Prior to the diagnoses we had booked a trip to Disneyland (California) for Oct. 4-11.

WE are just learning to cope with diabetes and appreciate any and all info. to help us cope...

I had no idea that high temp could affect her blood sugars and being from the west coast in Canada we rarely have high temperatures so now I am very worried.

I have a few questions.

Is California in the 80's in early october?
Is there anyway to get info. about the carb counts of all the foods at the restaurants in Disney, beforehand?
Can we store her insulin at first aid where it will hopefully be cooler?

Thanks for telling me about GAC, I will need to explore exactly what it is and what it means...

I guess I will avoid lines in the sun if it is hot...

[buffettgirl]

My responses are in red:
My daughter who is 11 was just diagnosed with type 1 on March 17.
Prior to the diagnoses we had booked a trip to Disneyland (California) for Oct. 4-11. big hugs. It's a strange weird place to be, but you'll find your new normal soon enough. I would suggest you hop over the childrenwithdiabetes.com biggest support group out there. :)

WE are just learning to cope with diabetes and appreciate any and all info. to help us cope...

I had no idea that high temp could affect her blood sugars and being from the west coast in Canada we rarely have high temperatures so now I am very worried. Not all kids have trouble with high temps. This isn't a given, and truthfully, usually it means that you just let the child do a little extra snacking. Line waiting was always a good time for us to relax, check bgs, give snacks if needed, for us though, the excitment always made my son high, so we gave more shots in line than sugar.

I have a few questions.

Is California in the 80's in early october?
Is there anyway to get info. about the carb counts of all the foods at the restaurants in Disney, beforehand? Disney is notoriously bad about carb counts. Your best option is to just get a book like Calorie King, or a program for your iphone or palm pilot that has carb counting info.
Can we store her insulin at first aid where it will hopefully be cooler? You can store it at first aid but do you really want to walk back to first aid any time she needs a shot? You want a spur of the moment mickey bar? it will melt by the time you get to first aid. Look into getting "frio" packs. They're water activated and they'll keep your opened bottles of insulin from getting over heated. They don't actually make things COLD but opened bottles don't need to be in the fridge anyway. This way YOUR insulin is always with YOU. Not in the hands of strangers.

Thanks for telling me about GAC, I will need to explore exactly what it is and what it means...

I guess I will avoid lines in the sun if it is hot...Again, that's not a given. We have a saying Your Diabetes May VAry. You're going to just have to play it by ear and see how your child does. :)

[BCholly]

My responses are in red:

Thank-you for all your help and advise.

Right now anyways she is on prescribed schedule of insulin...two shots a day. Before breakfast and before dinner with a combo of short and long insulin doses...

IF it is the same program in October it wouldn't be too bad to leave the insulin somewhere else.... I am just worried about carrying the stuff onto rides or leaving it somewhere and it going missing:scared: that would not be good!

I was hoping Disney would have someplace where I can look up how many carbs are in a Micky Bar, Dole whip etc...

I am no where near anyplace called normal yet...... in fact I am close to freak out mode usually..:sad2:

[Selket]

My daughter who is 11 was just diagnosed with type 1 on March 17. .

I'm sorry about your daughter's diagnosis.:guilty:

I second the suggestion to visit the Children With Diabetes website: http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com - there are forums and a chat room there. Lots of Canadians too.

My son was dx'd at 26 months of age and started on an insulin pump 6 months later. I HIGHLY recommend it - research it when you get the time and things settle down a bit. I just got a CGMS (continuous glucose monitoring system) called the Navigator in the mail today (oh boy am I thrilled!!!) - I am looking forward to getting him started on that. He is 7 now and doing well but there is room for improvement.

I can imagine you're in getting from one day to the next mode - it is very, very hard the first few weeks and months but does get better. Children With Diabetes has an excellent, wonderful, magnificent summer family conference - this year held at Disneyworld in Orlando - July '09. Check that out: http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/activities/orlando2009/

They are holding one in Vancouver next summer 2010. Look on the main page and follow the conference links. The Orlando one is worth scrapping your Disneyland trip for - believe me. It is amazing. Tons of kids with type 1 and families, siblings, grandparents and special sessions for the newly dx'd parents. The kids program is wonderful. I cannot say enough good things about it. Feel free to PM or email me if you want more info.

I can't speak to DL - haven't been there since I was a teenager! I'd love to go back!

[Caribbeanprincess]

I also agree about the insulin pump. My nephew has been on it for about 6 months and it's been amazing how much easier it is for him. :goodvibes

[buffettgirl]

Thank-you for all your help and advise.

Right now anyways she is on prescribed schedule of insulin...two shots a day. Before breakfast and before dinner with a combo of short and long insulin doses...

IF it is the same program in October it wouldn't be too bad to leave the insulin somewhere else.... I am just worried about carrying the stuff onto rides or leaving it somewhere and it going missing:scared: that would not be good!

I was hoping Disney would have someplace where I can look up how many carbs are in a Micky Bar, Dole whip etc...

I am no where near anyplace called normal yet...... in fact I am close to freak out mode usually..:sad2:
don't worry, freak out mode is perfectly allowed. :) But it does really get better. I promise. :) It won't always be freak out mod.
And selket is correct. We're going to the FFL conference this summer for our first time and from what I hear, it's just absolutely amazing. I can't wait. :)

[visitingapril09]

My daughter who is 11 was just diagnosed with type 1 on March 17.
Prior to the diagnoses we had booked a trip to Disneyland (California) for Oct. 4-11.

WE are just learning to cope with diabetes and appreciate any and all info. to help us cope...

I had no idea that high temp could affect her blood sugars and being from the west coast in Canada we rarely have high temperatures so now I am very worried.

I have a few questions.

Is California in the 80's in early october?
Is there anyway to get info. about the carb counts of all the foods at the restaurants in Disney, beforehand?
Can we store her insulin at first aid where it will hopefully be cooler?

Thanks for telling me about GAC, I will need to explore exactly what it is and what it means...

I guess I will avoid lines in the sun if it is hot...

Hi there, We are in the Vancouver area. Our daughter is almost 15 and was diagnosed at 10. We are taking our second trip to Disneyland next week. If you want to pm me any questions please feel free.

[BCholly]

Hi there, We are in the Vancouver area. Our daughter is almost 15 and was diagnosed at 10. We are taking our second trip to Disneyland next week. If you want to pm me any questions please feel free.


Please let me know how it goes and where you ate etc.... that would be very helpful in easing some of my worries...

Is her doctor in Childrens? I live in Maple Ridge.

Thanks for the info about Children with Diabetes forum.... I signed up and started reading... I am afraid it is scaring me even more...ugh!

I am excited about the 2010 conference in Vancouver! We will be able to attend that one easily!

[mackay_j]

Hi to the person who was recently diagnosed and is going to disney- don't panic. I was in the same situation when we first went 9 years ago. My girl had only been diagnosed for about 1 month before we came over.


Since then we have taken my girl every where includding, US, Europe, skiing other adventure holidays and have even taken her to the Artic in the winter - so life can still go on, it does get better, you are in the worst part at the moment, give it time you will adapt and although the worries you have now will never go away completly they will subside. I am now at the stage were we worry more about all the normal teenage things than the diabetees.

I now run a suport group and have given info to many who travel. So if you have any questions just shout and I will try and help you out.


I would not recomend leaving you insulin at the first aid place. Its a long way back. If it is going to be very warm try and get hold of a 'frio bag', if you cant get these in the use freeze some slightly damp cothes and wrap arround a container holding the insulin- make sure that these cothes do not come into contact with the pen/needle/vial or the waltet they are kept in, this needs to go into a secondary container then get wrapped up. This frio bag keeps insulin at the correct temperature, and its small and portable it can also be used in moutain climbing and we used it in the artic to stop the insulin freezing.

We have done disney/ US several times since and have a few tips

Major excitement can also casuse sugars to rise or fall quickly so be careful on the 1st day/travel day (check with you consultants first but we run my girl slightly higher (8-10 Uk scale0 than normal on our travel day esp as we have a 8-9hr flight) as thats when they are most likely to be most excited.

Before any big thrill ride check sugars, do not go on if too low or too high.

I have never used the GAC (to be honest the 1st time I went I didn't know about it I probably would have taken it if I had known but as I have never needed it would bother now- but its up to you you may find it useful, My girl would not use it now as she insists that she is the same as everyone else and has fought to do the same as all her mates, includding climbing, absailing, water sport holidays so would not take kindly to me getting her that but she is now 16). If I have to leave a line I ask the person before/after us to keep our place and explian why, if we have returned after the time they reach the front then they say to CM and we explain on return - I find this is the fairest way to do this - no advantage -no loss. however, read below about high sugars and what you should not do if they are high enough to produce Ketones


If sugar levels are high (in UK normal is 1-7 so I would call this about above 15 need to ask what these should be in US scale) then you should limit the amount of exercise, that includes walking about too much This is when you will see most (but not all) of the children have to use the tiolet more often (some find dooing excersise brings the sugars down so get tempted to do this - Please do not do this. At this piont you should take time out to rest until sugars fall. Tissue damage occurs during excersie if ketons are present (usually because of high sugars). When this hapens to us we use the time to go and see a show or wait in a very long que.

I find that sipping gatoraid/ or equiv sport rehydrate drink on a hot day works well to maintain/stablise sugars (again make sure sugars are not high before allowing this to be sipped all day). You can buy 'cool' disney water carriers to make this a more kiddy 'cool' thing to carry about.

I would also always take a banana with you as during a very bad hypo postassium levels also drop and this can leave a person fealing week and awful even when their sugars come back up. So after glucose is give for a hypo we then carb restock with a banana. A nice treat altentative is the frozen bananas from the ice cream cart ( check I think these also contain nuts)

The other thing is not to be tempted to rush about too much if it is very warm. Infact the parks are better anyway if you relax and enjoy them at a slower pace.

Depending on the age of the child, and if they have any smaller siblings it may be usfule to higher the larger pram thing, we did this on our 1st trip as my girl was 6 when we went but had a younger sister aged 3 so we hired the double and the older one (who was at that time very small for her age climbed in when she got tired. It was also freezing cold that Xmas in Florida at times so the blankets kept them snug. However, we were only able to do that the once as she was too old on return visits and there was no way she would have got in.


If you are flying and on a pump do not go through the security gate scanner. you need to be hand scaned as stong magnetics can interfere with the pump. This is also true of some rides, so best to disconect a pump before riding then reconnect when over (Some even suggest for insurance that the pump should be removed before riding - we don't have an issue in the UK as pumps are only provided to extreem cases hard to control/ or control with too many hypos. And are repalce by doctors as required.

If on a pump make sure and know how to convert back to injections if the worst happens and the pump is broken.

Most of all go and enjoy!:cool1:


If any teens have any questions about a 1st visit then let me know and I will give them the diabetic teen forum that my daughter uses. Please note that this has teans up to the age of 19 and I cannot speak for its content. Infact I have only just let my girl join now aged 16. If you teen is younger and they have questions ask them here or pm me and I will get my girl to reply back directly.

[Selket]

Thanks for the info about Children with Diabetes forum.... I signed up and started reading... I am afraid it is scaring me even more...ugh!

I am sorry you find it scary reading. I don't know what is scary but please introduce yourself there. We often talk about complex and esoteric issues dealing with pumping and the like but this is NOT something you need to worry about at the moment. Nor your child's A1c, etc. You are just starting out so it is a whole other place you are in. Believe me....for the first YEAR after he was dx'd I felt like I was being forced to get my M.D. degree I had so much to learn - so much reading, etc. You have to take one day at a time and once you get one thing figured out more or less...you can move to the next.;)

There is actually a long Disneyland thread on the parents board 1st page at the moment - check that out.:thumbsup2

[bopper]

Make sure you keep the test strips cool too, not just the Insulin.
We had a time on vacation where my DH was reading very high, but it turns out he was very low. We think the strips got too hot when we were in Hawaii. Make sure the readings jibe with their behavior and what they have eaten.

[dlaushey]

Our DD11 was dx'd soon after our first visit when she was just under 3. We have made numerous (~50) trips since being dxd in 2000 (AP holders in Atlanta). We have never even thought about getting a GAC for diabetes (after reading through this I still don't understand why someone would, how would a GAC help manage her diabetes while touring a park?). Although she has type 1 we have never let this slow her down from doing anything or use it as an excuse not to do something. She is on swim team, dance team, soccer team, cheerleading and has an active social life spending the night with friends and family. Diabetes is a disease that can not be cured (will be soon!) but can be managed until the cure is found.

As far as planning and touring, be sure to keep insulin with you (or extra bottle close by if on a pump), bring extra syringes (even if on pump), lancets, strips, pump site changes and especially a back up meter. We have had many diabetes experiences at the parks; seizures (at an amusement park not Disney, whole story on it’s own), Highs and Lows, pump site failures, run out of strips, lost meter, forgot meter for the day, run out of insulin in the pump, dead pump/meter battery, overheated meter, run out of snacks/juice – if it can happen to someone with Type I at Disney we have probably done it. We have toured with a CGM and it was great! We didn’t have to manually check her BG as often which we usually do while standing in line. Her CGM died about a month ago and we are trying to get a new one for our upcoming trips.

We have only mentioned to CM’s a couple of times that she has diabetes; I cut to the front of a line to grab a Sprite when her BG was really low (explained to those in line after getting her to drink some) and we asked a CM while waiting for an ADR for some crackers or rolls since her BG was a little low (they just seated us at the next table which we felt bad about).

While at Disney or on any vacation we check her BG more often and give insulin more often (it helps that she is on a pump). As far as carb counts we just WAG it (just like at most restaurants) and check the BG again later and adjust. We are probably most worried at night since she has had a full day of exercise and a high number of carbs. She was very seizure prone when she was younger especially while sleeping. We have her go to bed with a little higher BG than normal and then correct in the morning. She has not been one who is affected too much by the heat although we do carry a lot of extra water bottles.

Anyway, for anyone who is traveling with someone with Type I just be prepared with supplies and watch for signs of BG swings, otherwise it should be like traveling with someone without Type I – a trip filled with Pixie Dust! Have Fun!

[mackay_j]

dlushy- I'm with you, from as soon as she was diagnosed we have told her that she is no different from anyone else, the year she had been diagnosed The brittish rower john redgrave had just won his 5th gold olimpic medal, and he is a diabetic. We told her all about him and if he could do that then she could try do anything she put her mind too as long as she was heathly enough. She also got to wonder around the hospital and mix with others a lot worse off than herself, we pointed out that they would do anything to be able to stay healthy just by taking injections and not eating the wrong foods. Now 10 years on and about to leave school to go to university after summer. I can honestly say, with pride in her, that she has never never complained about being diabetic (even although I am sure she must get cheesed off about it sometimes). On one occasion she had had a particulary bad day (she used to go high at the same time of day every day and nothing would get her sugars down, no more insulin could be given as she always crashed down after 3 hrs into a hypo, sometimes she would end up being sent home from school and be violently sick for a few hours), she said "today mum I started to feel angry about this, but only for a few mins as I quickly remembered the faces of those other girls in the hospital when I was diagnosed" Those are face I thought she would have long forgoten as it had been 5 years ago! She also used to swim for the county team -but gave up as she aslo plays clarinet and sax for county and school band so couldn't fit it all in with her studies. She has gone trips with the school which involved all sort of activies includding hillwalking absailing, sailing, skiiing and has toured other EU countries with her music bands.

I would not have wanted to get the GAC from when she was old enough to understand what it meant as that would contradict how were brining her up. But I do think its is down to both personal choice and also how well the persons diabeties is controled.

[dlaushey]

dlushy- I'm with you, from as soon as she was diagnosed we have told her that she is no different from anyone else.

Thanks mackay_j!

Btw, I forgot to mention in my post that the subject of the original thread should be:

Traveling with a Child who has Diabetes.

not

Traveling with a Diabetic Child.

No matter what a child may have the CHILD comes first. My child is not defined by her diabetes though it is a part of her.

[Belle & Ariel]

Our DD11 was dx'd soon after our first visit when she was just under 3. We have made numerous (~50) trips since being dxd in 2000 (AP holders in Atlanta). We have never even thought about getting a GAC for diabetes (after reading through this I still don't understand why someone would, how would a GAC help manage her diabetes while touring a park?). Although she has type 1 we have never let this slow her down from doing anything or use it as an excuse not to do something. She is on swim team, dance team, soccer team, cheerleading and has an active social life spending the night with friends and family. Diabetes is a disease that can not be cured (will be soon!) but can be managed until the cure is found.

As far as planning and touring, be sure to keep insulin with you (or extra bottle close by if on a pump), bring extra syringes (even if on pump), lancets, strips, pump site changes and especially a back up meter. We have had many diabetes experiences at the parks; seizures (at an amusement park not Disney, whole story on it’s own), Highs and Lows, pump site failures, run out of strips, lost meter, forgot meter for the day, run out of insulin in the pump, dead pump/meter battery, overheated meter, run out of snacks/juice – if it can happen to someone with Type I at Disney we have probably done it. We have toured with a CGM and it was great! We didn’t have to manually check her BG as often which we usually do while standing in line. Her CGM died about a month ago and we are trying to get a new one for our upcoming trips.

We have only mentioned to CM’s a couple of times that she has diabetes; I cut to the front of a line to grab a Sprite when her BG was really low (explained to those in line after getting her to drink some) and we asked a CM while waiting for an ADR for some crackers or rolls since her BG was a little low (they just seated us at the next table which we felt bad about).

While at Disney or on any vacation we check her BG more often and give insulin more often (it helps that she is on a pump). As far as carb counts we just WAG it (just like at most restaurants) and check the BG again later and adjust. We are probably most worried at night since she has had a full day of exercise and a high number of carbs. She was very seizure prone when she was younger especially while sleeping. We have her go to bed with a little higher BG than normal and then correct in the morning. She has not been one who is affected too much by the heat although we do carry a lot of extra water bottles.

Anyway, for anyone who is traveling with someone with Type I just be prepared with supplies and watch for signs of BG swings, otherwise it should be like traveling with someone without Type I – a trip filled with Pixie Dust! Have Fun!

Have you used your CGM at the waterparks? We are going with a waterpark AP and I cannot decide to remove the CGM for the week because we will be away from the receiver so much all day or that we need it more than usual after a busy day at them. We had it on a cruise and I felt he did not get to do some things with it on--some of us jumped from the speedboat and swam ashore while he and others took the dinghy, he did not get in the really rough surf because I was afraid it would get knocked off. I also worry about the waves at TL knocking it off even though we use Tagaderm.
Thanks for the great post. We raise our son the same way.

[dlaushey]

Have you used your CGM at the waterparks?

Glad to hear you are raising your son the same way! We think it is the right way. Diabetes can be managed and will be defeated soon!

Funny you should ask about the CGM and waterparks. We had AP's to the Disney WP's last year (we alternate between Disney parks, WP's and even Universal:confused3). We got the CGM about the time we were going on a Disney cruise last Spring and waited until we returned to start using it. Once we started using it we really liked it until we went to a water park. It was impossible to keep signal (btw, we use the Minimed Pump and CGM) during the day at the water parks. So we went w/o the CGM and checked BG at least every 1 to 2 hours. I see your point wanting it on afterwards but I thought it was too difficult to get it going again. Also, the water on the site all day just made it unusable after a day or so. There was no way she was going to let me put a new one on her each day - not that I would due to the cost of each of the sites.

If you can (check with your Doc) I would highly suggest using Lantus to cover 50-80% of your basal rate and then have the pump cover the rest. We tried this last summer and loved it. Our Doc called it "Untethered Pump". Since she is disconnected from the pump so much while at the pool her BG's would run high. Then we would spend the evening and night to try and get them back in line. Using the Lantus kept her basal going even while unattached. It really worked great. The hardest part was remembering to give her the Lantus each night. This really worked great at the water parks. When we would check her BG we could give a correction if needed but she never got up into the 300's and 400's like she did w/o the Lantus. It was much easier to get her back in range. Our doctor had many of the campers try this while at summer camp last year. We were already doing it and continued until the pools closed for the summer.

Have a great trip. We loved doing the water parks for a year - it's taken us another year to dry out!

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Just because some families do not need the GAC or choose not to use it does not need that another family may not need it. If they have a child who is indeed affected by the heat, that might be a situation where a GAC is warranted. As Sue has pointed out numerous times it is not the diagnosis but the manifestation of it that qualifies one for a GAC. Some lines are out in the sun for a significant period of time- especially if it is during a busy season adn the extended queues are out. In that case I could see a person needing a GAC. It seems that most people who have children with diabetes use the GAC as back up. They may never need it, but it's there just in case.

I also have to say, I'm glad that you are raising your child with persepctive, but I've never agreed with the mindset that just because others have it worse than you it means that you can't feel bad about your condition every once in awhile. Those feelings are very normal for anyone dealing with a chronic illness, and I think it's healthier to acknowledge them than to sweep them under the rug or feel guilty about them. (I apologize if I am misreading the post). Everybody has their own struggles that are meaningful to them. I'm sure that my friends with Crohn's would love to have switch places with me where my disease is much easier and less expensive to control, and I acknowledge that. But that doesn't mean there still aren't times when it's been a hard adjustment to make. There's always somebody worse off than you, but that doesn't mean that you always have to be a Pollyanna.

[mackay_j]

I agree with that and have both waited for and prepared for the day when my daughter will rebel against her diabetess, she is encouraged to do everything she can, but is also told by us that it is OK to feal down at times and that we all do regardless of any conditions we may or may not have. - but I am proud of her that it hasn't happed yet, (but would never tell her that incase it would make her feel compleled to never feel down and that would be very unhealthy).- that day may still come, and when it does we will still take the approach of trying to show her her fortunes rather than allowing her to become focused on any negatives, however, she does have the added prespective of a sister who has a tummor inside her spinal colum and for whom the outcome is so much more uncertain.

As I said I help run a support group for diabetic children, my daughter has moved from being one of the kids, to now helping the younger ones, she has been asked by our hospital to go into schools and do presentations to both kids and on occasions to only staff in schools where they were less flexibale on there treatment of diabetic children, She has also gone (again as a pacient represntative on behalf of our health board to meet with government and educational officals to discuss the issues of both negative and possitive discrimination.

My group has come accross all sorts of people who have many diff ways of coping with this, and as long as they are coping - then there is no right or wrong way, however, we have luckly got the funding for a child/family theripist whom we can call in when we feel it is appropriate and when the family (and usualy consultent team ,who give them our contact details to help) agree that they would like additional support. Every time we have used this so far it has been in cases where sadly (and usualy for very good/uderstanable reasons) the child is being protected for their condition and from 'real life'.

And I agree about the GAC, I even said if I had known about it when we fisrt went, when she was resently diagnosed I would have taken it. But would not do so now as my girl would not want it. She won't even apply for a special free bus pass that she is due to here in scotland (she sees that as possitive discrimination). and instead pays any for any journeys to meet her friends out of her own pocket money. And that has come completly from her as we had applied and used the pass (as I have a diff view of this than she does) until she reached 16 then she had to apply for it herself. She was excluded from a school trip, due to her diabeties, when she was 11 and has worked very hard to ensure that it never was allowed to happen to her again. I think that is why she is so determined not to be treated differently.


Again I stress that if having the GAC makes you feal more secure (and it would have for us on our fisrt trip) and you feel it will keep your child in better health on this trip then get it.

[Selket]

Just because some families do not need the GAC or choose not to use it does not need that another family may not need it.

Absolutely - taking a line from someone else - YDMV (YOUR diabetes may vary). The same medical diagnosis can have different consequences for different people at different times.

She was excluded from a school trip, due to her diabeties, when she was 11 and has worked very hard to ensure that it never was allowed to happen to her again. I think that is why she is so determined not to be treated differently.

She sounds like an awesome young woman and what a role model for the little kids! Kudos to you both and to all of us who either have a child with type 1 or have type 1 themselves.:thumbsup2

[mackay_j]

Hi just wanted to come back about the gac and about diabetes in general, I have just gone through many past posts on the subject and wanted to add a few things in as some of the info out there is wrong, incase any new person reads it then they will hopefully read this too. (please excuse my dislexic spelling)

To give you some background- I worked in drug reaserch for many many years. 7 of which on a diabetees reaserch team until my daughter became diabetic (hows that for luck), and I couldn't do diabetic stuff 24 hours a day, there was also a conflict of interests for any data I was then to submit to FDA etc. So moved info other fields of research. This is why I want to put some info here.


HYPERS

I have seen it writen on here and other places many times about using the GCA when the child is running high (going to loo at lot so have to cut back into ride)- Please do not do this- do not put a child with high sugars on a thrill ride, or let them go running around in play areas, ketone production rapidly increases with exercise and can also do so if the body experences stress- Most very bad Hypers take place after exersise when sugars were already high. If the sugars go high take time out to rest the child (go and see a show as long as you don't have to rush to get to it, or just relax with a cool sugar free drink), you can go back into the que later when sugars return to normal. Heat is not usually a problem for high sugar situations execpt that some children feel sick if sugars go high and heat can, make that seem worse, so rest in the shade.



HYPOS - Low sugars

Luckly the recovery from slight lows is quite quick as long as you get them on time. If a low hypos happens this can usualy be treated on the spot with no need to leave lines/show as long as you have glucose/food with you (not so easy in locker rides). but make sure sugars are normal before riding and if its a thrill ride I would check them again after the ride, as adreniline can make sugars fall quickly.

For a major hypo very low sugars, then take time out, do not thrill ride again until you know your sugars are both normal and stable

Heat is more of a factor in lowering sugars and can for some be a main cause of going in and out of hypos all day. If this happens, it is worth reducing you backgrounds for following days (if you have experience to do this). For these people the GAC should provide a safe waiting area. However, don't worry if you have not got the card/left it behind as without the GAC, we have just asked a CM if there was a shadded place she could wait, and she and her dad waited there while we waited in the que until we were at the front when they rejoined us


The Pump

This needs (and the tubbing) to be kept from over heating if standing in the sun. Again if realy worried ask a CM, we just make sure that its in the shade of her or her dad. You also need to make sure that it is disconected (not just suspended) for thrill rides as magnets used in these could cause the pump to malfunction. Make sure and get hand scaned at the airport for same reason.



Drinks

Drink plenty in the heat. But I have read some things on disney forums about drinking 1pt per so many hours if you have ketones to flush them away- DO NOT DO THIS- IT CAN KILL YOU- Make sure they are kept hydrated in the SAME way as the rest of your family.


Sip gatoraid or equiv all day to maintain sugars, balances the carbs used in the amount of walking you do.


Card reloading

It is a good idea to eat dinner (or supper) and then not do much more walk about after that, giving the bady a chance to relaod before going to sleep. This is not always easy at disney as you may want to stay late to see the shows, So if your chlid can its a good idea to split dinner into 2 smaller meals one at parka then another supper befoe bed. Also a good idea (but doesn't feal like it for the parent at the time) to check sugar in the night after a particulary bussy day. (for us it is water park day that will casue a night time hypo, but everyones diff)

[Cheshire Figment]

Thank you for this very useful information. It seems to cover most bases and is clear and not filled with technobabble.

[mechurchlady]

I love that post and it is the clearest advice, thank you.

Hands Sue a sticky to put his list in the FAQs

[buffettgirl]

Hi just wanted to come back about the gac and about diabetes in general, I have just gone through many past posts on the subject and wanted to add a few things in as some of the info out there is wrong, incase any new person reads it then they will hopefully read this too. (please excuse my dislexic spelling)

To give you some background- I worked in drug reaserch for many many years. 7 of which on a diabetees reaserch team until my daughter became diabetic (hows that for luck), and I couldn't do diabetic stuff 24 hours a day, there was also a conflict of interests for any data I was then to submit to FDA etc. So moved info other fields of research. This is why I want to put some info here.


HYPERS

I have seen it writen on here and other places many times about using the GCA when the child is running high (going to loo at lot so have to cut back into ride)- Please do not do this- do not put a child with high sugars on a thrill ride, or let them go running around in play areas, ketone production rapidly increases with exercise and can also do so if the body experences stress- Most very bad Hypers take place after exersise when sugars were already high. If the sugars go high take time out to rest the child (go and see a show as long as you don't have to rush to get to it, or just relax with a cool sugar free drink), you can go back into the que later when sugars return to normal. Heat is not usually a problem for high sugar situations execpt that some children feel sick if sugars go high and heat can, make that seem worse, so rest in the shade.



HYPOS - Low sugars

Luckly the recovery from slight lows is quite quick as long as you get them on time. If a low hypos happens this can usualy be treated on the spot with no need to leave lines/show as long as you have glucose/food with you (not so easy in locker rides). but make sure sugars are normal before riding and if its a thrill ride I would check them again after the ride, as adreniline can make sugars fall quickly.

For a major hypo very low sugars, then take time out, do not thrill ride again until you know your sugars are both normal and stable

Heat is more of a factor in lowering sugars and can for some be a main cause of going in and out of hypos all day. If this happens, it is worth reducing you backgrounds for following days (if you have experience to do this). For these people the GAC should provide a safe waiting area. However, don't worry if you have not got the card/left it behind as without the GAC, we have just asked a CM if there was a shadded place she could wait, and she and her dad waited there while we waited in the que until we were at the front when they rejoined us


The Pump

This needs (and the tubbing) to be kept from over heating if standing in the sun. Again if realy worried ask a CM, we just make sure that its in the shade of her or her dad. You also need to make sure that it is disconected (not just suspended) for thrill rides as magnets used in these could cause the pump to malfunction. Make sure and get hand scaned at the airport for same reason.



Drinks

Drink plenty in the heat. But I have read some things on disney forums about drinking 1pt per so many hours if you have ketones to flush them away- DO NOT DO THIS- IT CAN KILL YOU- Make sure they are kept hydrated in the SAME way as the rest of your family.


Sip gatoraid or equiv all day to maintain sugars, balances the carbs used in the amount of walking you do.


Card reloading

It is a good idea to eat dinner (or supper) and then not do much more walk about after that, giving the bady a chance to relaod before going to sleep. This is not always easy at disney as you may want to stay late to see the shows, So if your chlid can its a good idea to split dinner into 2 smaller meals one at parka then another supper befoe bed. Also a good idea (but doesn't feal like it for the parent at the time) to check sugar in the night after a particulary bussy day. (for us it is water park day that will casue a night time hypo, but everyones diff)

I don't want to be pedantic, but much of this advice works opposite for some kids - type 1 diabetes is a very much "Your Diabetes May Vary" type of disease.

For instance, there's really no reason why a child who is high cannot exercise if they don't have ketones. Exercise AND Ketones do not mix but exercise will not bring on ketones. For many kids exercising is a great way to bring down bg's.

For many kids, excitement can bring on lows just as easily as highs and for many kids it varies from time to time. for hypos, you should ALWAYS have glucose on your person. Always. In a pocket, tucked in your waistband, tucked in your bra but ALWAYS on your person. At disney you can always have your bags with you, so you should never be without your diabetes supplies.

For pumps, simply wearing them under your clothing should not make them overheat. NEVER hand your pump to a CM always keep it with you. ALWAYS.

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I don't want to be pedantic, but much of this advice works opposite for some kids - type 1 diabetes is a very much "Your Diabetes May Vary" type of disease.

For instance, there's really no reason why a child who is high cannot exercise if they don't have ketones. Exercise AND Ketones do not mix but exercise will not bring on ketones. For many kids exercising is a great way to bring down bg's.

For many kids, excitement can bring on lows just as easily as highs and for many kids it varies from time to time. for hypos, you should ALWAYS have glucose on your person. Always. In a pocket, tucked in your waistband, tucked in your bra but ALWAYS on your person. At disney you can always have your bags with you, so you should never be without your diabetes supplies.

For pumps, simply wearing them under your clothing should not make them overheat. NEVER hand your pump to a CM always keep it with you. ALWAYS.

I don't think that was what mackay was saying, but I bolded your statement because it is very important. This has come up before. CMs will not (heck, we can not) take your pump. Not only is it a bad idea to leave your pump with a stranger, you will find that we will not accept it anyway.

[SueM in MN]

I love that post and it is the clearest advice, thank you.

Hands Sue a sticky to put his list in the FAQs
I think this thread would do nicely for the disABILITIES FAQs.
It has a lot of good information and some different points of view.

[mackay_j]

I don't want to be pedantic, but much of this advice works opposite for some kids - type 1 diabetes is a very much "Your Diabetes May Vary" type of disease.

For instance, there's really no reason why a child who is high cannot exercise if they don't have ketones. Exercise AND Ketones do not mix but exercise will not bring on ketones. For many kids exercising is a great way to bring down bg's.


For many kids, excitement can bring on lows just as easily as highs and for many kids it varies from time to time. for hypos, you should ALWAYS have glucose on your person. Always. In a pocket, tucked in your waistband, tucked in your bra but ALWAYS on your person. At disney you can always have your bags with you, so you should never be without your diabetes supplies.

For pumps, simply wearing them under your clothing should not make them overheat. NEVER hand your pump to a CM always keep it with you. ALWAYS.


Please I don't want to start an argument over this, but if you are doing this to bring down you or your childs sugars, then please check that your diabetees team are in agreement, and that they have kept up to date with recent research info- yes it does bring down sugars and some people do use it and have gotten away with doing so for years- but that doesn't mean they will continue to be lucky. When you have high sugars your body is infact being starved of energy (It can't make use of the available energy in the blood). That is why at diagnosis most children are lethargic -during this time your body is both more prone to ketone production (as its is caused by the breakdown of tissue to try and produce the energy the body is desperate for) and also to prone muscle fatique because of the lack of available engergy -including the heart muscle!

In research programs for alternative insulin admin- all excersise is stopped for any pacient whos sugars are high, even at the cost of a reaserch run- that can be an expensive thing for company/charity involved and not something that would be done unless there is good medical reasons to stop that run - I can assure you there is.

As I said you may be lucky for ever, but having seen first hand the concequenses of heart muscle fatigue, it not a chance I would take. I have even come across a child under a ped team (not diabetic specilast team) who had been told this was OK, however, after discussions she requested to be re-refered to a diabeties team and has now been given the more up to date info on this. Again if you have been told this is OK by a diabetic team, then I would request an electronic ketone meter so can tell you there are ketones present or being produce (even at low levels ketone productone indicates energy starvation to the body has begun) and not just use ketone sticks. I would also get them to give you a blood glucose number at wich you should stop excersise. I cant remember the the US number system - As I said before for us in the UK we have normal range of 4-7 and should not ever do excersise over 15.

[Selket]

Well...there is exercise and there is EXERCISE. My 7 year old 1st grade has 30 mins of PE and it is not super intense. An older child or adult might be really putting in miles and hours on the track or bike, swimming, etc.

Touring a theme park could be more intense or less intense depending on the age, fitness level, heat, etc. I've found that we often get really stubborn highs or lows in the heat at Disney. I probably would not go in July or the hot months if the Children With Diabetes conference wasn't then. Of course it gets hard to pull the kids out of school at other times - I know that is peak travel season for many.