How do you handle water parks if you are on the pump?

[ecs1516]

Any ideas?
Here are some of my guesses.
I have heard some give a shot of lantus but never using it I would want to try it beforehand.

Do you just disconnect? What do you do?

Putting pump in cooler in locker was a thought.

Maybe put a small meter and glucose tabs in one of those waterproof things that go around your neck?

[emm142]

Personally I'd probably do low dose Lantus (I get 18U basal from pump, but I think I'd do 6U Lantus) and then correct as necessary with the pump. 1/3 of my usual basal might be enough if I'm running around all day, and would at least be enough to keep away the ketones. I'd also rather run a little high, around 200, for the day.

[timsma]

When Tim was on the MM pump, we got one of those aquapacs that has a spot where the tubing can go thru, without water getting into it. You can still look at it and bolus thru it. We did temp basal rates as well, for the extra activity. Just google aquapac and you'll see what I'm talking about. Have fun! Oh, and he kept it in his pocket. If it falls out, it floats too.

[Amy C.]

My son does a bolus of 4 hours worth of basal and then takes the pump off before going swimming.

After 4 hours, he does another bolus to make up for the lost basal.

[emm142]

Originally Posted by Amy C.

My son does a bolus of 4 hours worth of basal and then takes the pump off before going swimming.

After 4 hours, he does another bolus to make up for the lost basal.

It's so funny how true YDMV is! If I gave 4 hours of basal at once (usually around 3U) my BG would absolutely plummet.

[jcanolson]

We haven't done the Lantus. She doesn't develop ketones quickly though.

We do have a waterproof neck thing for stuff to check bg with and something for lows.

We leave the pump at the First Aid station. It is fairly centrally located, so we just swing by occasionally, check bg, and bolus for correction or to replace basal. We'll be there at the end of the day to change a site anyway. We've never had a site last the entire day.

[McKenna'smom]

DD tends to run low when running around water parks. We disconnect and check her often and bolus for snacks.

The last time we went to a water park, we were able to put her pump in a FRIO pack and leave it with the First Aid office.

[hawkeyegirl]

We avoid them, LOL.

Seriously, I know that is not going to work indefinitely. I think eventually we will buy an Omnipod out of pocket for waterpark days. Jack cannot go without basal for more than an hour and a half, and it just does not work for him to try to replace basal by bolusing occasionally. The thought of trying to use Lantus for the day gives me hives.

[jules12]

We rent a locker and put his pump in a frio pack. We have a special pouch that keeps it from getting moist. We make sure we visit the locker about every hour to bolus the missed basal and/or get a snack. Sometimes if the lockers aren't conveniently located we may bolus for half the missed basal so we can stretch the time out a little but the goal is to have some insulin every hour or so. I just never wanted to mess with lantus for just a day or two.

We carry a meter (a one touch mini) and glucose tabs around with us and just check and leave it in the towel by the entrance of the ride. Someone said using a small airtight container so you could just hold onto it and we might try that next time.

[Beach bum]

If we were just doing a waterpark for a day, we would just go the unhook and lock it up route, then plug back in at lunch and have the basal going for at least an hour (this way too they can rest and let their food settle), correct if needed. We would hold pretty steady during the day. Night is where the highs would occur, so then we would do an increased temp basal.

If we are going somewhere where there will be several days of waterpark, then we would go the untethered route.