type 1 diabetic and 4 yrs old

[jillymom8]

My 4 yr old was recently diagnosed as type 1 diabetic is there any way to get rough idea on carb counts for disney?

 

[Singledad]

http://allears.net/pl/diabetes.htm#9

allears has a good section about diabetes and disney.

 

[jillymom8]

thank you This was very helpful and I just printed all 17 pages. Might I just say I am nervous about the trip.

 

[Singledad]

well just remember if you make any ADR's to make sure to put down that someone is diabetic. They will help you learn what is okay and what to avoid. I am sure within a day someone who is also type 1 or have a T1 child will respond with more information for you. Just remember to test often, and you should be fine.

Don't forget about First Aid too.

 

[momof1+1+2]

well just remember if you make any ADR's to make sure to put down that someone is diabetic. They will help you learn what is okay and what to avoid. I am sure within a day someone who is also type 1 or have a T1 child will respond with more information for you. Just remember to test often, and you should be fine.

Don't forget about First Aid too.

We notified food service when we went in November and really, it was a waste of time. All they offered us were some sugar free options which as all Type 1 parents know, itsn't the issue. They still need insulin for sugar free and most of the time, more insulin because they are typically higher in carbs. My suggestion is to bring along a Calorie King book to use for reference or if you have a smart phone, utilize their website. It was a hard go but we did a lot of guessing. Her sugars were high for most of the time really due to her excitement. I would take that over her going low a lot though! Especially while there. I will PM you in the next day or two with some other hints. We T-1 moms have to help each other!

 

[SueM in MN]

as momof1+1+2 mentioned, WDW does not give carb counts, so it is up to you to make as close of guesses as you can for carb counts.
All of the restaurants have no sugar added options for dessert, but (also as momof1+1+2 mentioned), carbs are the problem, not added sugar.

If you don’t have a smart phone, but do have an iPod touch, there are some calorie count apps that also include card counts and don’t require a web connection to use. You can search for “carb count” or for “diet” (many of the diet apps include calorie and carb counts - one I’ve heard good things about is called Lose It, which is free). Check the ratings and also check some carb counts against a known good resource like Calorie King to see how it compares.

Also, as Singledad mentioned, allearsnet. com does have a very good page about diabetes (do check dates on things though because some of the information is from 2006 - not much has changed though). If you lose this thread and are looking for the allearsnet link, you can find it in post # 3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, located near the top of this board or you can follow the link in my signature.
Just scroll down post 3 to the “Conditions and Concerns” area and you will find that link first under “Diabetes”, along with links to some past threads.

 

[buffettgirl]

My 4 yr old was recently diagnosed as type 1 diabetic is there any way to get rough idea on carb counts for disney?

Hi and sorry about your 4 year old.

Your best option is to get a calorie king book and carry that with you for rough estimations of foods. It's not perfect but it's close enough - mac and cheese is still mac and cheese.... Disney is just woefully bad with carb counts. No need to notify food service, as kids with type 1 don't need special food accommodations and as you know, they can eat whatever they want provided they take proper insulin. And there is nothing worse than some well meaning person trying to shove sugar free food at your kid which will ..eh...give them a bad tummy ache and the runs from the sugar alcohols.

Not that you asked but one thing to watch for - all the walking during the day will usually account for lows at night so just make sure you are testing at night. However, sometimes you can offset this with the amount of greasy high fat foods at dinner which will actually raise blood sugars hours later too, so sometimes you'll make out pretty well.

Also, just remember, it's disney. It's not real life. If blood sugars suck a bit then they suck a bit. It's not like you're doing it every day. We try for a happy medium and try to avoid the lows as much as we can.

Feel free to PM if you need any other help or have specifics - my son has had diabetes for almost 6 years now and done Disney with Diabetes many times.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Hi there Sorry to hear about your son's diagnosis.

My son was 2 1/2 when he first went to Disney with diabetes. I was worried about so many different things, and for the most part, it went pretty well. There were some random highs and lows with the activity and excitement, but you just treat them and move on.

As far as the carb info, the best thing is to bring a Calorie King book, or app on your phone. We also brought a measuring cup to figure portion sizes - I think at this point, we're better eyeballing what a 1/2 cup looks like, but back then, we'd only been dealing with diabetes for a year.

Bring lots of extra supplies with you. You're better off having extras and not needing them than needing them and not having them.

If you haven't, come over and check out www.childrenwithdiabetes.com There are a lot of really great people in the forums, both for moral support and for advice.

Jen

 

[Jullian]

Diabetes are not leaving any one and in fact it did not leave 4 year child. But the website is good for moral support and there are good people in this forum. And the change is good that you brought in a child. Keep visiting Disney and it will be a good change in a kid.

 

[melancholywings]

I second or is it third or fourth the Calorie King Book. We have one stashed in her kit, one in the car and one at home. They are the best.

 

[Savy]

I don't really have anything to add as we are planning our first Disney trip now, but wanted to Thank everyone for the good advice here. I will actually be going to Disney with 3 Type 1's (my 6 yr old DS, my 9 yr old SS, and my DH).. I am nervous as to how we will handle but I am not letting it rule our time at Disney!! We will be going in Mid-July!

 

[daneenm]

Lots of great advice already given. My favorite planning for Disney site is the Allears/Badshoe section.

I was SO nervous when we visited WDW the first time and my son was 7, and 5 years into T1D. We have been to DL many times, but I really worried about the heat - it makes my son drop like a stone.

The two tried and true travel tips from me are...

• pack double or triple the supplies you think you will need. Then, you don't need to be stressed out if something unexpected happens.

• Test, test, test, test, test! The extra exercise and excitement really kept our son in range and even on the verge of low quite often. Keep lots of glucose tabs and snacks with you so you can treat in line as needed.

Do not let T1D overtake your trip! Be prepared, do not expect perfection and roll with the punches. We had a fantastic time and I hope you do too.

 

[FBDM66]

I've been a T1 diabetic for 29 years and have gone to Disney more times than can count. From my own experience as a an adolescent and now as an adult, your son will do just fine. Just apply what you've learned thus far.

I echo what's been said about Calorie King. I use it every day (thanks SingleDad for the link - I wasn't familiar with it.

At Disney, and whenever I'm out, I do rely on a little guess work. One thing I learned is that one cup is roughly the size of an adult fist. It's worked for me.

As was said by a PP - TEST!

Stick to your meal and snack schedule as best you can. Bring glucose tabs with you. I always put a couple juice boxes in my backpack (never had a problem when they saw my meter at the bag check).

I tend to run high at the end of a Disney day, but a dose correction takes care of that.

I won't tell you not to worry. I tried that with my mother, even as an adult, and I got 'mom look'! I will pass on to you not to let diabetes rule your trip, remember, you rule it!

Have a wonderful time!

 

[buffettgirl]

I've been a T1 diabetic for 29 years and have gone to Disney more times than can count. From my own experience as a an adolescent and now as an adult, your son will do just fine. Just apply what you've learned thus far.

I echo what's been said about Calorie King. I use it every day (thanks SingleDad for the link - I wasn't familiar with it.

At Disney, and whenever I'm out, I do rely on a little guess work. One thing I learned is that one cup is roughly the size of an adult fist. It's worked for me.

As was said by a PP - TEST!

Stick to your meal and snack schedule as best you can. Bring glucose tabs with you. I always put a couple juice boxes in my backpack (never had a problem when they saw my meter at the bag check).

I tend to run high at the end of a Disney day, but a dose correction takes care of that.

I won't tell you not to worry. I tried that with my mother, even as an adult, and I got 'mom look'! I will pass on to you not to let diabetes rule your trip, remember, you rule it!

Have a wonderful time!

oh yeah, never a problem getting into the parks with supplies. We've had CMs actually make silly comments like "Sweetest Place on Earth!" But I gather they see enough diabetes supplies that they are familiar.

Oh, get a frio wallet for your insulin - it will keep it at room temp without over heating. If you're pumping, then just remember that you may need to change your pump tubing and reservoir more than every 3 days as the heat may crystalize the insulin (especially if you're using humalog or apidra - novolog doesn't seem to have the same trouble). Take things also like granola bars or PB crackers - something that will help when you get a stubborn low.

Also, make sure you know how to use your glucagon and carry it with you - just in a case. An off label use of glucagon is puling it with a regular syringe and using 1u per child's age as a mini-dose for stubborn lows. Most of the D camps are using this now at night and it's worth adding to your tool box especially if you encounter a tricky night low that won't budge and your child is sick of eating. You don't end up with a huge rebounding high later and no nausea like you would with full rescue glucagon.

 

[jillymom8]

Thank You all for you helpful suggestions and support. I know he will be fine it's the mother thing that won't let me accept thatWe are going the beg of Oct so it won't be so hot but still comfortable. I just really can't believe that restaraunts post carb counts but the place that wil host the diabetes conf won't???

 

[buffettgirl]

Thank You all for you helpful suggestions and support. I know he will be fine it's the mother thing that won't let me accept thatWe are going the beg of Oct so it won't be so hot but still comfortable. I just really can't believe that restaraunts post carb counts but the place that wil host the diabetes conf won't???

when they have the diabetes conf. Friends for Life, CWD food is handled through the conference system of Disney, and CWD has their own foodie person; Mike Schurig who takes care of supplying carb counts to all the food, not Disney.

Realistically, the carb counts aren't really a big deal once you have had diabetes for a while. A hamburger bun is roughly the same everywhere. a breaded chicken finger or fries are all about the same. Learning to estimate carb counts is a good skill and one your child will eventually need. Accuracy is great at home, but when we're out we go for the best guess.