Disney and Insulin Pump: Thrill Rides?

[acebatonfan]

Hi!

I am a type 1 diabetic in the process of making the switch from multiple daily insulin injections to an insulin pump. I will be going to Disney in August, and this will be my first time visiting Disney since my diagnosis.

I will be ordering the TSlim insulin pump. I have been reading their Important Safety Information, and they have a section covering amusement park rides.

For very strong electromagnet rides ("free-fall" or other thrill rides), they want me to remove the pump and not take it on these types of rides. I am a bit confused about this and am trying to figure out if simply disconnecting myself from the pump and keeping the pump safely in my park bag will keep it from malfunctioning. I am concerned that the ride could break down, and I would be without insulin and could risk going into DKA if I am not reconnected to the pump within four hours, especially if my pump is with a family member who did not go onto the ride.

The TSlim company also recommends disconnecting the pump for high-speed/high-gravity roller coasters. I have no confusion about this.

I am trying to come up with a list of what rides I know I will need to disconnect or remove from. So far, all I have is:
Magic Kingdom
BTMR: Disconnect
Space Mountain: Disconnect
Splash: Most likely disconnecting?
Teacups: Will I need to disconnect for this?
Mine Train: Clueless
Epcot
MS: DEFINITELY REMOVE
TT: Disconnect
HS
ToT: DEFINITELY REMOVE
RnR: DEFINITELY REMOVE
TSMM? Will I need to disconnect for this?
AK
Everest: Disconnect

Currently, I am very confused on what rides I need to disconnect from and what rides I will need to completely remove my pump from and the degree of removal. I also do not know if I have a full, accurate, list of every ride that I know I 100% need to disconnect for. It will be greatly appreciated if anyone can help me out with this.

 

[disney david]

Hi!

I am a type 1 diabetic in the process of making the switch from multiple daily insulin injections to an insulin pump. I will be going to Disney in August, and this will be my first time visiting Disney since my diagnosis.

I will be ordering the TSlim insulin pump. I have been reading their Important Safety Information, and they have a section covering amusement park rides.

For very strong electromagnet rides ("free-fall" or other thrill rides), they want me to remove the pump and not take it on these types of rides. I am a bit confused about this and am trying to figure out if simply disconnecting myself from the pump and keeping the pump safely in my park bag will keep it from malfunctioning. I am concerned that the ride could break down, and I would be without insulin and could risk going into DKA if I am not reconnected to the pump within four hours, especially if my pump is with a family member who did not go onto the ride.

The TSlim company also recommends disconnecting the pump for high-speed/high-gravity roller coasters. I have no confusion about this.

I am trying to come up with a list of what rides I know I will need to disconnect or remove from. So far, all I have is:
Magic Kingdom
BTMR: Disconnect
Space Mountain: Disconnect
Splash: Most likely disconnecting?
Teacups: Will I need to disconnect for this?
Mine Train: Clueless
Epcot
MS: DEFINITELY REMOVE
TT: Disconnect
HS
ToT: DEFINITELY REMOVE
RnR: DEFINITELY REMOVE
TSMM? Will I need to disconnect for this?
AK
Everest: Disconnect

Currently, I am very confused on what rides I need to disconnect from and what rides I will need to completely remove my pump from and the degree of removal. I also do not know if I have a full, accurate, list of every ride that I know I 100% need to disconnect for. It will be greatly appreciated if anyone can help me out with this.

I know it not a thrill ride in any way but in mk the people mover or Tta as some call it uses strong magnets to move the car along the track. Not sure if that means anything I know you said free fall or thrill rides so not sure if you have to do anything special for that ride.

Sorry if their bad spelling or bad grammar not the best at it. And sorry if the ride okay and not what you meant not trying to confuse you in any way or give you bad info.

 

[ttintagel]

I can't be MUCH help, because my OmniPod rep said there's no need to disconnect for rides, but if you're disconnecting for rides with big drops, I'm pretty sure Splash Mountain qualifies. More so than BTMRR or the Mine Train, where the descents are banked around curves and never drop straight down.

Maybe it might help to take a list of rides and watch a youtube video of each one to gauge the intensity.

Does the company have a trainer or a representative you could call? Sometimes you luck into a person who's able to be more specific than the manual.

 

[anagantios]

Animas Ping also recommends disconnecting pumps when going on free falls and rollercoasters. However I went on all of the rollercoasters at all the parks with my Ping pump connected and in my pocket and had no problems, including ToT and RRC. I would just make sure it was well secured in a pocket and not flopping around anywhere and it should be totally fine. Pump companies just like to cover their bums in case anything weird happens, but it's really unlikely.

 

[jcano]

The only things we worried about with my DD's pump was the ones with a magnetic field. From my understanding it can affect the computer system in the pump. Not sure about the likelihood, but I do know some friends that it has happened to and it messed up the dosing amounts. She wasn't as big into the "thrill"'type rides our last trip though. We did just plan to change the cartridge every evening. That way if the heat degraded the insulin or there were bubbles from being shaken around on the rides, we got rid of that problem.

 

[pdehaven]

My daughter also uses the omnipod and she has not disconnected for any rides. Has anybody used the new magic bands with an omnipod? Any problems?

 

[Chickenlady]

My daughter also uses the omnipod and she has not disconnected for any rides. Has anybody used the new magic bands with an omnipod? Any problems?

Used both the omnipod and the magic bands a couple of months ago for a week. No problems!
Have never disconnected or suspended insulin delivery for any theme park ride.

 

[mackay_j]

my dd had a malfunction error come up on her minmed pump - the manufacturer said it was caused by magnetic field damage and the first thing they asked us was had she had it on any theme park rides - she had but it was 6 months before the error so they gave us another one.

We are in the UK getting on the pump is very very hard here- sugars have to be uncontrollable by any other methods. ( but its thankfully getting more available over the last year) - They will not give another one again - the coast will be £5000 if it breaks.


She used to disconnect but still have on her. We will not do that again - from now on she will disconnect and put in a locker.

We have never got a GAC for her in the past but due to this issue I am hoping that we can get one on our next visit as time will be against us (there in aug) if we have to disconnect then wait in the stand by queue. I have tried to asked about the das for this on here - but keep hitting a brick wall as everyone seems to want to tell you why you should not get a das lol - If we can't get one then we will only do the fast pass rides and ones with short queues. the go when parks get too busy.

 

[JenniBugInPink]

My husband has a Minimed pump that he's had for a long time, and he's never taken it off or anything. I drag him on every ride imaginable, especially ToT (my very favorite ride in all of WDW). He's never had any trouble. His pump is so old that I wish he would have trouble - he really could use a newer one, but of course insurance won't pay for one until this one dies. Maybe we'll hit it lucky this trip. Sure would be a pain though...

 

[acebatonfan]

Thanks for the responses! I will most likely try to be safer than sorry and disconnect for anything I might be afraid of causing damage to the pump. I will be planning on getting in touch with a representative whenever I get in installed, so hopefully they have an idea of to what extent I need to remove the pump.

I am simply happy I will not have to worry about going down to Disney with 500+ pen needles in my purse. I feel like I am constantly giving myself injections, and I'm sure it would be chaos trying to be on the multiple injections and factoring in all that Disney can do to my glucose levels.

 

[jakeybake]

My 12 year old daughter went on the OmniPod after our trip last August. We were hoping to get her on it before the trip but she just wasn't ready for it in her head. She went on in November and we absolutely love it! Her A1C last month was 7.1 which was better than the goal.

We are going back this August and were told that she should be totally fine wearing it the entire week. I feel like it will make things so much easier. No longer have to give her shots at random places and times of the day. I'm sure she will get some strange looks at the pool but she could care less about that. She tends to wear it on her lower back most of the time so my only worry is going down the pool slide at the Beach Club since you lie on your back. If it's a problem we can change the site to the back of her arms. She is thin with lots of muscle so not a lot of places to put it. I on the other hand could cover my body in Pods

Good luck to everyone going down with their pumps or without. Fingers crossed for a cure in the near future!!!

Jay

 

[buffettgirl]

We've never removed or disconnected. Never had any trouble.

The only ride that MIGHT qualify is the People Mover, but all the others don't have magnets, and if you search, the system to launch RnR doesn't qualify. Tower of Terror is not a 'free fall' ride. Nothing at Disney is really a "thrill" ride, not in the sense that they're talking about.

The pump companies are just covering their butt. I've yet to ever talk to anyone who's had a pump malfunction from a ride, that can be directly attributed to the ride. Six months after the fact just dosen't cut it. Pumps do break.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is what WDW's website says:
"Magnetic Fields
Common equipment, such as electric motors and radios, that produce electric and magnetic fields are utilized extensively throughout the world and also within our Resorts. These fields are generally no greater than you would experience in any urban environment or may be exposed to through common household appliances such as vacuum cleaners and hair dryers.

If you—or any member of your party—has questions regarding the above, you may speak with a Guest Relations Cast Member for details."

Here is a link to the WDW web page for guests with disabilities which includes that information about magnetic fields:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/guests-with-disabilities/

A lot of things out in the community or in your home use magnets or electromagnetic power and you are exposed to a lot of electromagnetic fields without knowing it....
Elevators, for example.
HowStuffWorks "How Elevators Work"
toasters, hair dryers....