Question on Character Dining with a Diabetic

[pld5]

My husband is a Type 1 diabetic and tests his sugar and takes his insulin shortly before eating his meals. He typically excuses himself to go to the restroom to do this. We have scheduled character meals during our stay in January at Hollywood and Vine, Chef Mickey's and CRT. He is concerned about not being able to witness our 5 year old son meet some of the characters at those meals if he is taking his shot when they come around to the table. Has anyone else experienced this situation? Are cast members helpful in this regard and try to give advanced notice when to expect characters, or is it the luck of the draw as to when the characters come to your table?

Thanks for any information you may have.

 

[juliebug1997]

I'm sure if you discreetly mention it to your server they would be more than willing to help make sure that your husband doesn't miss a thing.

If it helps you at all, I have been to WDW with a insulin diabetic and they took their shots at the table under their napkin and they felt like no one noticed. Have fun!!!!!

 

[PatsMom]

Restrooms seem like a nasty place to be poking holes into your body. I am type II but at one point was insulin dependent. I tested and injected at the table.

With that said, you will be able to see the "rotation" of the characters and have some idea if one will be approaching your table shortly. If your DH doesn't want to test and inject at the table he should be able to time it so that he can go quickly test and inject.

 

[momto2js]

I am T1 IDDM for abotu 25 years. I remember the days when I tested once or twice a day and I'd got to the restroom to do it. I now test 10-12 times a day and I just do it where I am because my 2 and 4 year old are not going to wait. Maybe he can practice at home testing on his lap under the table (and I'm not kidding). If this is your first trip to DW, I find control to be tough and I do test frequently during the day. Sometimes twice a hour is I am feeling funky. The problem for me is the heat and activitiy masks my low BG sensations, I REALLY have to pay attention. I also carry snacks, cokes (the real ones) and glucose tablets with me EVERWHERE.

Depending on the "kind of patient" he is he may need to talk to his doc or cde about making insulin adjustments for the trip. I use a pump and generally I reduce my basil rates by about 25% when we walk in to a theme park. I make adjustments as I need them and don't feel like I need premission from my doc to do it. However, if he is uncomfortable with making adjustment, then he might need to develop a plan for reducing insulin for the trip. If MDI, then I'd likly cut some of my long acting insulin and then cover as needed with more bolus insulin. Fighting low blood sugars all day is a good way to have a terrible vacation.

As for missing characters at a character meal, it is the nature of the beast. Mickey will almost always come by just as you are getting your meal from the buffet. If we do another one we will all go to the buffet together so that it isn't as much of a problem. The last one we did, DH was gone for most of the characters for one thing or another.

 

[DEA]

My husband is a Type 1 diabetic and tests his sugar and takes his insulin shortly before eating his meals. He typically excuses himself to go to the restroom to do this. We have scheduled character meals during our stay in January at Hollywood and Vine, Chef Mickey's and CRT. He is concerned about not being able to witness our 5 year old son meet some of the characters at those meals if he is taking his shot when they come around to the table. Has anyone else experienced this situation? Are cast members helpful in this regard and try to give advanced notice when to expect characters, or is it the luck of the draw as to when the characters come to your table?

Thanks for any information you may have.

T1 Diabetic here. I would suggest he take care of this before you sit down for your meal. It's a buffet, so there is no wait for food. In fact, if you have a wait before you are seated, he could walk by the buffet, make a plan for what he's going to eat, go to the bathroom, check blood glucose, inject, and then grab some fruit from the buffet on the way back to the waiting area, just in case there is a wait. You might want to clear it with the host or hostess, explaining the situation, but there's a good presumption that if you show up at Hollywood and Vine, you're getting the buffet, anyway. And, of course, work with the host or hostess to make sure that the timing is right.

 

[pld5]

Thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions!