Diabetes and Disney

[stephnms]

I've been taking notes while reading this thread, because my oldest son (who's 14) was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago with Type 1, and we hope to return to Disney World next spring. Thank you for the tips!

 

[MK2010]

I would suggest going to www.coolerconcept.com and looking at the Frio Cold Packs. There are several people in this forum, myself included, who use them.

These are gel packs that are water activated. They will keep the internal temperature at insulin-safe levels for over 40 hours. As the water evaporates you can just soak it in water for a few minutes to reactivate it. They come in various sizes.

For example, I have a "double wallet". Depending on what I am doing it will hold my Byetta pen as well as either a syringe with insulin in it or two insulin vials. And I tend to do at least five air round trips a year and have never had any problems with TSA over it.

Thanks for this info. I shall hightail it over to check it out! They sound like a GREAT solution!

 

[buffettgirl]

I've been taking notes while reading this thread, because my oldest son (who's 14) was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago with Type 1, and we hope to return to Disney World next spring. Thank you for the tips!

Welcome to the club you never wanted to be part of. But I've found that I learn most from other D parents, so feel free to ask whatever you need to ask. And make sure you stop at http://forums.childrenwithdiabetes.com/ No question is too random to ask. Everyone is amazingly helpful there and smart and people have a way of knowing if you need a hug or a kick in the pants.

 

[ttintagel]

Type I or Tpye II? They're two comletely different diseases.

(Honestly, I wish one of them could get a different name. It'd make life so much simpler sometimes!)

 

[PatsMom]

I know we never would step foot in a restroom for shots. We just would do them right at the table and honestly I don't think I've ever had the feeling that anyone noticed. There is no way I'd waste that much time hiking to a restroom or worse to first aid. Nope. At Disney especially (but other times when we eat out) we like to dose right before eating due to the unpredictable nature of restaurant service. Though by the time we were at Disney doing shots I swear I could have launched a syringe across the room at an "on the move" 6 year old and hit him square in the back of the arm. But...4 or 5 shots a day....

Got to agree with this 100%! When I was doing short acting insulin and also when I was doing Byetta, I injected right at the table. I never felt anyone was staring at me. The thought of poking holes in my skin in a restroom is not appealing! I also test wherever I am - sitting on the ground waiting for a parade is a regular place! If people don't like it, they can look the other way!

 

[Anna114]

LOL My family can't stand when I test my blood or when I shoot the Victoza into my stomach. I have to leave the room for the Victoza, they are such big babies.

 

[buffettgirl]

LOL My family can't stand when I test my blood or when I shoot the Victoza into my stomach. I have to leave the room for the Victoza, they are such big babies.

my response to that is that they'd probably like it a lot less if you were dead.

so tell them that.

Because we're dealing with a child we hear a lot from other parents "Oh I could NEVER do that to my son!!" and I just reply "oh, so burying him would be easier for you?" And then sometimes for good measure I"ll pull up a picture of what kids looked like before the discovery of insulin - the ones that they got photos of before they died. Because they all died.

 

[PatsMom]

LOL My family can't stand when I test my blood or when I shoot the Victoza into my stomach. I have to leave the room for the Victoza, they are such big babies.

I'm glad my family is tougher than that. They are used to me now and my daughter will even remind me if she thinks its been a while since I tested. Especially when I was on insulin, she was my backup. She knew the signs of a low and could test my blood for me if necessary. She wasn't crazy about the lancing part but she figured it was better than watching me die from a low.

 

[Anna114]

my response to that is that they'd probably like it a lot less if you were dead.

so tell them that.

Because we're dealing with a child we hear a lot from other parents "Oh I could NEVER do that to my son!!" and I just reply "oh, so burying him would be easier for you?" And then sometimes for good measure I"ll pull up a picture of what kids looked like before the discovery of insulin - the ones that they got photos of before they died. Because they all died.

Wow, I'm pretty sure my family wants to live but I'm not sure I would equate them not liking to see me stick myself to my own demise.

 

[buffettgirl]

They're giving you a hard time for doing something that you must do to stay healthy and alive. Don't do it and see how long you can last. It just irks me that we're all criticized for trying to best take care of ourselves (or our children).

Perhaps as an adult it's easier to take because you've got age and maturity, but picture a teenager or young adult who is too embarrassed to check their blood sugar at the table from listening to well meaning family "eeww" for years. How likely do you think that that teen or that young adult is going to check while sitting in the cafeteria or dining hall at school? Not likely at all. My child is 11. The whole process for him, and he's not even very manually adept, takes literally 10 sec to test his blood sugar (which exposes a drop of blood roughly the size of a pin head, .3 microliters, and then a few seconds more to bolus through his pump. Yet he's had people say "eww". The only ew is the person getting stuck to check blood sugar 10 times a day and getting countless shots.

The only appropriate response from our family should be "Thank you for taking such good care of yourself!"

 

[dragonfly57005]

I recommend the Frio as well. We kept our glucagon pen as well in there.

Always keep your db kit with you. Don't leave it in a stroller.

Make sure you have a fridge in your room for snacks.

We never injected in a bathroom or a first aid station. Just wherever. We're at.


Definitely check out the children with diabetes web site and forum. Great Disney tips.

 

[ttintagel]

20-year Type I veteran here. My #1 recommendation for WDW with IDDM is test, test, test. Test twice as often as you would at home. Test any time you feel strange, even if it's not your usual high/low symptoms. Test whenever you take a break to sit in the shade.

 

[daneenm]

20-year Type I veteran here. My #1 recommendation for WDW with IDDM is test, test, test. Test twice as often as you would at home. Test any time you feel strange, even if it's not your usual high/low symptoms. Test whenever you take a break to sit in the shade.

This is always our recommendation too. DS11's BG drops like a stone in the heat. He really ate very much the same way we all do on vacation - a nice Mickey Bar in the afternoon does everyone good on vacation, right?!

Keep your supplies with you (glucose tabs, gel, meter with lots of test strips, insulin). DS tests in line frequently (we hold the meter, he pokes and tests) and often chows down a granola bar while we wait.

I was very nervous before our first trip to WDW, and found it just about as easy to manage as any other day. By choice, we do not have him eat 'special' food or SF anything except soda so it is more of the same for us. Have fun!

 

[stephnms]

Thanks so much for your help, everyone!