Disney With An Insulin Pump

[twelveone]

My 3 year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in September 2009. We actually discovered his symptoms while at Disney World. He is now five and has recently received an insulin pump (Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm) with continuous glucose monitor. We have had the pump for about a month now and are really enjoying the control it has given us over his glucose levels. During our pump training we were warned about using the pump while on a helicopter or on roller coasters. Apparently the extra gravitational pull can cause the piston in the pump to move which could cause additional insulin to enter the body. Since we are leaving on Monday (September 29, 2014) for a week long trip to Disney. We are planning on simply disconnecting the infusion set while riding rides like splash mountain, thunder mountain and such.

I was wondering from you insulin pump veterans about whether or not we should even take the pump (disconnected from the body) on the ride. Also, if you have any other advice for a new pump user. We are excited about not having to worry about shots while at Disney, but even more excited about the advantage of the CGM for monitoring his lows and highs at the parks. Thanks for the help!

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Hi there!

My son uses a pump as well, although an OmniPod and not Medtronic, and a Dexcom CGM. He's been to Disney 3 times with his pump, and we have never had an issue with rides interfering with the pump. We do have trouble with lows while flying (we often end up with about 100 uncovered carbs per flight, as well as very low temp basals - the endo thinks it's due to the change in pressure forcing the insulin from the cannula in)

We found the CGM to be incredibly helpful. He has trouble with lows in warm temperatures, and the CGM let us catch them and adjust basals or add a few carbs accordingly.

Have a great trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

There are some really helpful people with pump experience who should be coming by to answer your questions and you can do a search - there have been some recent experience threads.
(I will try to do a search tomorrow if you don't get a bunch of answers).

Depending on his height, roller coasters may not be much of an issue because he may be too short for most.

 

[mackay_j]

!!!!!PLEASE READ THIS !!!!! --My Daughter has the mini med and we used it 5 times at disney only disconceting the cannular on roller coasters but keeping it on her body -UNTIL last year after a trip (about 9 weeks later) the pump came up with an error message which can only happen due to magnetic fields and also with some faster non magnetic rides. Medtronic replaced her pump free of charge as we had been back over 2 months they could not prove it was due to rides. However, they have made it clear not to keep on her during coaster type rides again and that they will not replace for free again. Worse fear for us was what if had delivered the wrong amount or had broken while we were away (we have used the pump for 8 years now so it would be very hard to suddenly go back and work out the old way especially in a place where carbs ect are all calculated on a different scale (we are in the uk). So on our last visit the pump came off for any main roller coaster in disney ( & especially in universal and Busch).

Remember people will say but we used it fine with no issues - so did we in 5 visits ( for 2 diff medtronic pumps) but that does not mean it will always be OK - we will now not take that chance.

 

[twelveone]

Thanks so much for the replies as it is helpful to hear from those who have experience with the pump. I was able to find a few older post about using a pump at Disney and most say that there is no need to disconnect. Due to his height and age, the only rides I am really worried about is Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and possibly the Barnstormer. Since his insulin dosing is so small and even the slightest amount of insulin causes his blood glucose to drop, I will definitely feel more comfortable disconnecting him from the pump while on these rides. I just wasn't sure about whether or not I should even bring the pump on the ride. I have not even considered the magnetic fields on the rides though, any suggestions on which rides to avoid bringing the pump? Thanks for all the advise and I welcome any other tips you may have. While this is not our first trip dealing with diabetes, it will be our first trip on the pump and CGM.

 

[FaithsWish]

Glad to see the responses to this! Faith has an Omnipod and Dexcom and I was wondering the same thing. Great to hear that there is no problem with them.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) My 19-year-old niece has had a pump since age-6 (still has one).
2) When she goes to WDW or Cedar Point, she was advised to remove it on "major" coasters.
3) At WDW, she yanked it ALWAYS on
. . . RnRC
. . . Space Mtn
. . . Big Thunder Mtn
4) She didn't have a problem on any other WDW rides.

 

[dsneygirl]

We didn't disconnect for the Barnstormer (only ride my T1 was tall enough for). This was our first trip with CGM and it was amazing (twice previously) that thing is a god send.

If you are on Facebook check out a group called "CGM in the Cloud" if you haven't already. It's life changing for parents.

 

[Chickenlady]

I'm a slightly older T1. My Omnipod is with me on all the WDW, Universal, and Busch Gardens roller coasters. I love thrill rides! I ,of course, don't have tubing to disconnect but I leave the pod on and the pump going and take the control unit with me on every ride I do and I do them all. Never had a problem. Except the occasional ride that mades me Too bad I couldn't find that barfing smilie.

 

[acebatonfan]

Hi!

I am a T1 diabetic pumping with the TSlim. I ended up delivering the amount of basal that I will miss and then disconnect from my pump for any of the rougher rides. I also stayed away from the PeopleMover (very strong magnetic fields), RNRR, and TOT.

 

[Couchy]

Type 1 here. For 15 years on mini med with dexcom CGM. Never disconnected on any rides including RR and have never had an issue

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I also stayed away from the PeopleMover (very strong magnetic fields) . . .

1) Good thinking!
2) This never occurred to me or my niece!

 

[twelveone]

Thanks for all the stories and suggestions. This leads me to another question: If we don't take the pump on rides like the TTA People Mover and others, what would you do with it? Simply not riding the rides is not an option as the People Mover is one of our favorite relaxing family rides. Do you get a locker, keep it in the stroller, have a Cast Member hold it or some other option? Just curious what others have done in this situation.

Thanks!

 

[2tinkerbell]

I don't think the CM's at the ride can be responsible for holding an insulin pump/monitor and medication. I would suggest the First Aid station in each park or renting a locker.

 

[ttintagel]

Here's my two cents. I use an Omnipod. The warranty on my old Paradigm ran out while I was planning a Disney trip, and I decided to switch to Omnipod because I liked the idea of not having to disconnect to swim, or worry about my tubing hanging out and getting caught on something in line or on a ride.

The trainer didn't mention anything about magnets, so I didn't avoid the Peoplemover and it didn't seem to have any effect. Maybe I just got lucky, but if so I've gotten just as lucky on subsequent trips.

In my tubing days, whenever I had to disconnect I didn't let the pump get any farther away from me than was absolutely necessary. If I went on a roller coaster (mind you, I never went in for the huge, gut-dropping thrill rides; BTMRR is my idea of a perfect coaster) I'd put the pump in a zippered compartment in my purse/bag. If it was a ride where you might get wet, it would go inside several layers of heavy-duty Ziploc bags.
(N.B. I've never been on Kali River Rapids, so that may be a level of wet where it's more advisable to leave it with someone who's not riding. I just don't know, and can't give advice on that one.)

 

[dsneygirl]

Thanks for all the stories and suggestions. This leads me to another question: If we don't take the pump on rides like the TTA People Mover and others, what would you do with it? Simply not riding the rides is not an option as the People Mover is one of our favorite relaxing family rides. Do you get a locker, keep it in the stroller, have a Cast Member hold it or some other option? Just curious what others have done in this situation.

Thanks!

I wouldn't be letting it out of my sight! FWIW we never disconnected on TTa, it never occured to me. If you do just disconnect and hold it in your lap or backpack (you'll be carrying one with all your other D supplies anyway).

 

[twelveone]

I wouldn't be letting it out of my sight! FWIW we never disconnected on TTa, it never occured to me. If you do just disconnect and hold it in your lap or backpack (you'll be carrying one with all your other D supplies anyway).

I have to agree that I am not comfortable letting the pump out of my sight as it is a vital part of my son's health care. Based on all the reports I have heard, I think I will just disconnect the tubing and put the pump in the bag with his other supplies. On another note, after just one week of using the Elite CGM sensor with his paradigm pump, I can really see the benefit of being able to see the trends in his blood glucose. I think this is really going to be a help while at Disney. Thanks for all the help and please let me know if you have any other tips.

 

[jcano]

We disconnected and left it at First Aid when we did PM. It's just not worth the risk to me. The pump company clearly spells out that the warranty is void for damage due to a magnetic
type ride. I don't have an extra $7,000+ sitting around to replace it, so we don't take the chance. Yeah...it may not be damaged, but the warning is there. After talking to people in First Aid at the water park near us and hearing the stories of the insulin pumps fried by the magnetic field of the water coaster, I listen to that warning.

 

[cduff0908]

My 15 year old son has been on a pump for 10 years. We've been to several parks with 2 different brands; Deltec Cosmo and Animas one touch Ping. I've not had a problem with him riding coasters and thrill rides, but I don't let him go through x-ray machines. I remember being told about them potentially messing up some pump programming at a pump demo once.

Cosmo used to send a "trip pump". We could call the company a few weeks before and they would send an additional pump that we could program before we left in case something happened while away. We just had to send it back within 7 days of our return date. Call MiniMed and see if they have anything in place for vacationing.

I would follow what the manufacture says because the last thing I would want on a vacation is my son without his pump for any amount of time. It has afforded him (and therefore us) so much freedom. Having to monitor him while tracking shipment and reprograming the pump would put a damper on the trip.

Our biggest issues on trips have been a spike in BG because he doesn't drink enough water. He has also dropped quickly due to all the walking/exercise/excitement. He now reduces his basil by 20% in amusement.

I always talk to his endocrine doctor before vacations for tips and advice.

 

[buffettgirl]

My son has pumped since 2006 and during that time we've visited disney many , many times. We've never disconnected for anything. The rides at disney aren't "extreme" enough to cause the issues that Medtronic is suggesting might happen. Possibly on larger, more intense rides at other parks, but none of the rides at Disney (even RnR) will cause trouble. Even the people mover.

If you're going to disconnect, keep the pump with you.

( I also don't let my son go through the full body scanner at the airport, but I do allow him through the regular metal detector)