Insulin Pumps on rides

[trekkie2]

I am starting an insulin pump for the first time later this month and am making my first Disney trip in January. while looking around the net for some pump info, I hit a statement about taking pumps on rides with electromagnetics or high G forces. Anyone know anything about this? I am paying a fortune for this pump and don't want to toast it out on my first vacation. Also, what about wet rides, I am getting a minimed and know that is not waterproof. Also, any info on carb counting in Disneyland? Looking specifically for info for Disney CA for this trip. thanks

 

[petchie]

I travel to WDW regularly with a diabetic and a minimed pump. The only ride she really avoids is Stitch in the MK . She does Splash, Space, RNR with no problems. You can purchase the sport cover for it which she does use if we go to a waterpark, but she does not use the cover normally.

Word of warning: Do not try to use the hot tub and then insert new tubing. We decided one night to use the hot tub. She was due to switch tubing anyway, so she figured she would go pump free for an hour while we soaked. We went back to the room, showered, she inserted new tubing and we went to sleep. Well, the waterlogged skin and the adhesive did not like each other and the tubing came out while she slept. Luckily, her numbers were still decent in the morning and she did not have to bolus too much. Lesson learned though!

She has not been to CA parks yet, so I cannot help with that.

 

[tinkerbell_29]

Getting carb info out of Disney is like pulling teeth from an alligator. I don't know if they don't understand we need it or what. As for rides I have a minimed pump and was told by my CDE to take it off for anything that has a lot of force. The problem is that if the pump gets hooked on something the force can cause the site to come out. If you go upside down and you don't have it securely fasioned and the site is not secure you are now out one insulin pump. That being said I take mine off on R-n-R and expedition everest. As for water rides it will be fine if it gets a little damp just dry it off after the ride. As for pumps in general being your first trip pack way more supplies than you think you will need. Better to have extra and not need it then to not have what you might need. Have a wonderful trip!

Lissa

 

[Cheshire Figment]

At DL (California) as far as electromagnetics, the only thing I can think of is whatever the current name is for the WEDWAY People Mover (or Tommorowland Transit Authority at WDW).

For high "G" forces you might have to worry about Big Thunder Moutnain RR, hte Matterhorn, California Screaming, and the ride (in DCA) that has you spinning on swing seats (I'm not sure of the name).

 

[Shorty82]

At DL (California) as far as electromagnetics, the only thing I can think of is whatever the current name is for the WEDWAY PeopleMover (or Tommorowland Transit Authority at WDW).

The WEDWay People Mover at DisneyLand closed in August of 1995. It was replaced by Rocket Rods in May of 1998 wich was closed in April of 2001. Currently the attraction sits closed and unused with much of the track missing.

Also, the DisneyLand WEDWay and Rocket Rods never used linear synchronous motors as the TTA in the Magic Kingdom does, instead it used tires powered by electric motors embedded in the track.

(Information from Wikipedia articles: PeopleMover, Rocket Rods, Tomorrowland Transit Authority; and from my own memory)

For high "G" forces you might have to worry about Big Thunder Moutnain RR, hte Matterhorn, California Screaming, and the ride (in DCA) that has you spinning on swing seats (I'm not sure of the name).

That would be the Orange Stinger.

 

[trekkie2]

So if I am understanding this correctly, the problem with the rides is that the force and movement might dislodge the pump and send it flying. I guess I was thinking more along the lines of magnetic stuff ruining the pump itself. If it is just a matter of sending it flying perhaps I can put it in a bag and pin it inside my pants.

 

[bopper]

My DH has a pump and we have gone to our local six flags and he does not avoid anything (except spinny rides!) because of the pump.

 

[Selket]

I've had this discussion about magnetic forces and pumps (my 5 yr old is on a pump - for over 3 years now - Animas). Here is a good link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1342313

We have been to the Children With Diabetes conference the past 2 times it was held at WDW and this was a topic of discussion among us parents of type 1's and type 1 folks and most people say they ride everything with their pump (all types) and have never had an issue.

For things where you might get wet but want to keep your set we use Skin-tac before putting the set on. It will stick to you like super glue. You will likely want to use a product like Unisolve to help get the set off in that case. This works great for us - William can swim with his sets on - no problem. They have never even started to come loose with Skin-Tac (we buy it from Animas but MM might sell it - or look for it on the internet).

Good luck with the pump - you will LOVE it!

 

[SueM in MN]

There are also some links on the disABILITIES FAQs thread (neqr the top of the thread list on this board) that might help you. You would find the links in post 3 of that thread. I think the one Selket linked to might be there (if it isn´t I´ll put a link since it has very good information).
As people already posted, ther is not a lot of info available about Carb counting, but there are a few links to threads in the FAQs thread where people posted information in the past that might be useful to you.

 

[Bsbllmom]

I don't know about pumping since my son hasn't started yet. But as for carb counting I would use the Calorie King book. Sometimes I use the carnival food section. If he has a hamburger and fries I count the hamburger as 50 and let him eat half the fries with either a Crystal Light or diet soda. I figure that meal to be around 75 which he is allowed for lunch, he is on NPH, that usually works out pretty well. If we have pizza I count one pizza as 60 carbs. I will buy a dessert and we split it. With all the walking we are usually ok. I hope this is a little helpful. PM me if you need specific carb counts from the Calorie King book.

 

[kirrrby]

I myself have a Minimed Paradigm 722.
I've had it for less than a year. (before that I had an older Minimed model.)
But last year when I attended Disney World, I never avoided any rides, because whats the fun in that, you just need to take extra precautions. When I went on Kali River Rapids, I tucked my pump inside my jeans. Also the case does help. The Minimed Paradigm although is watertight. I had no trouble going on the Thrill rides.(space mtn, exped. everest.) Although, I've never had these problems at Disney world, when I attended Busch Gardens they wanted me to take my pump off for apollos chariot.

good luck with the pump!

 

[kirrrby]

I've had this discussion about magnetic forces and pumps (my 5 yr old is on a pump - for over 3 years now - Animas). Here is a good link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1342313

We have been to the Children With Diabetes conference the past 2 times it was held at WDW and this was a topic of discussion among us parents of type 1's and type 1 folks and most people say they ride everything with their pump (all types) and have never had an issue.

For things where you might get wet but want to keep your set we use Skin-tac before putting the set on. It will stick to you like super glue. You will likely want to use a product like Unisolve to help get the set off in that case. This works great for us - William can swim with his sets on - no problem. They have never even started to come loose with Skin-Tac (we buy it from Animas but MM might sell it - or look for it on the internet).

Good luck with the pump - you will LOVE it!

the skin-tac is sold by minimed, and it is a very good way of keeping sets in place.
good idea!

 

[Chloesmom]

My daighter got a pump in may and we have been twice since then. She loves ToT and we ride it several times.. usually in a row. We did take off the pump after the first ride because it did jump loose from her pocket and made a little ouch on her site.. This was before she started using a pouch which we had for the second trip and there were no problems. I was told by her Minimed rep and people on here to not worry about the rides hurting the pump.. it would have to be ALOT of riding to affect it.
If in doubt take it off.. its very very easy to do and better safe then sorry.
As far as getting wet we carried a ziploc bag and slipped in into that and then into her pouch ... no problems.
Counting carbs on disney is nearly impossible. I think they add extra " carb" to everything because nothing ever seemed to be close to what I thought it would be.. I ended up figuring out what i thought it would be and adding ten percent and it worked well.. Chloe's sugar jumps sky high in Disney so its always a task to get it leveled out anyway..
Dont be afraid to ask for something special when you are eating. Disney is as helpful as they can be...
Have a great trip!

 

[kirrrby]

What i've noticed, is that the Disney counter-service employees know nothing about the nutritional facts in thier food. This is where a fast food carb-counting handbook comes in handy. [very handy, i must say]. But when bolusing you should take in effect that you are going to be walking ALOT, meaning the blood sugar will drop. Over my whole vacation I don't think any of my readings went over 130.[my average is 180-ish].

Also, test, test, test. [very important] as a teenager, i test in the morning, 2 hours after breakfast, lunch, 2 hours after, if its a late lunch, i'll test in between the 2 hour point. keep testing to get accqauinted with the types of food you eat. I recommend you still carry a carb counting book, even though Disney may add that "extra carb".

Also, if you go to Ice Station Cool [WDW] MAKE SURE YOU BOLUS & TEST AFTERWARDS, these sodas are high in sugars, carbs, calories too. I found that out the hard way, by almost ending up in the hospital on our 2 week vacation to Disney.

 

[Selket]

It is a good point that probably the most danger to your pump is keeping it secure - like in a pump pouch, etc. You don't want to go upside down on RnRC and feel your pump launch into space.

Also be sure to bring your test kit and emergency supplies (sugar source, glucagon, etc) with you and not leave it in a stroller or some other place. It is possible to get stuck on a ride.

I agree with Kirrby that a carb counting book (I think we have one called Calorie King? It is small/portable) can be really helpful. There are just some things you have to learn to guess at (like casseroles). Fortunately most little kids (my son is 5) eat fairly simple things! He also has a severe peanut allergy so sometimes the chefs focus more on that than the diabetes. At Crystal Palace when we ask for safe sprinkles for the ice cream they bring him a big thing full - like at least a half cup. They sat that down in front of him and he was SO delighted! He promptly dumped the whole thing on his ice cream/brownie and started eating. Of course he didn't eat all of it either - LOL! That is called "advanced carb counting" which we normally refer to as "WAG" (wild "a&^ guess).

I highly recommend a Salter Nutritional Scale - it tells you the carb counts of about 1000 foods plus you can enter your own recipes in it. It has really helped me learn to "eyeball" food when we go out plus the stuff we eat at home is more accurately counted I think. Well worth the money - we've had one for 3 years and I think it is a must for type 1's who carb count.