Water and the Insulin Pump

People going on the Insulin Pump or people who are new to it, always want to know if they can swim with the Insulin Pump on.  The answer to that is NO! Just like any other electronic device like a phone or an I-Pod, you wouldn’t want to get it wet and that is the same with the pump.  The pump has a feature called “suspend” which allows a diabetic to take off the Insulin Pump and stops the continuous drop if insulin from dripping everywhere when it is not connected to the body.  This feature allows the person to go swimming in a pool or take a shower without taking the pump in with them. 

 But going to the shore is different from going in a pool or taking a shower because it has SAND! Sand is bad for the pump because if it gets into the track of the connection port, the two pieces of the pump will not connect and you would need to change the site.  Luckily the pump comes with a cap, which you will need to place on the port that is ALWAYS attached to your body.  This cap will prevent sand from entering the track, allowing the person to attach the pump with no problems. 

            However, sometimes the sand cap does not work, which has happened to me.  Even though the sand cap does work really well from preventing sand from entering the track, tiny pieces can still get it.  Like I have said before, when this happens you need to change the pump site.  So remember to always put your pump on “suspend” when you are going to go in water and think your pump may get wet.  (This also includes water parks.) Also when you are going to the beach remember to keep your pump out of the sand and wear the sand cap!!! (Wearing the sand cap also includes lakes with sand and even pools that have sand bottoms)

This is a picture of my pump on "suspend."

Always Be Prepared

As a diabetic it is always important to be prepared whether it is bringing a juice box with you wherever you go, or having enough test strips in your meter so you do not run out.  Diabetics who are going on vacation should always be prepared with extra diabetic supplies, especially if you are traveling somewhere far away. 

            For example, if someone lives in California and he is traveling to the Caribbean, that person should bring multiple pump supplies, if they are on the Insulin Pump, and extra bottles of insulin.  You cannot predict diabetes and can never know what could happen.  It is always better to be safe rather than sorry.   

Sports and Diabetes

Diabetics can do anything they want, just like any other person, and sports are no different.  Just because someone has diabetes does not mean they can’t play sports. 

I have had diabetes for many years since I was little and do not remember not having it.  Even though I have diabetes I still play many sports.  For example, this morning I just ran in a 5k race.  No matter what the sport is it is a good idea to test your blood sugar before you play it.  If your blood sugar is below 100 before you start, depending on how long you plan to exercise/play, you should drink a small juice box worth 15 grams of carbohydrates.  This way the juice will boost your sugar up enough points so your blood sugar won’t drop while you play. 

            Also, always bring an extra snack and juice box with you in case your blood sugar goes low while you are playing.  

I Go on the Insulin Pump

At first, like many other diabetics, I did not want to go on the Insulin Pump.  I thought having a continuous tube in my body and the pump itself attached to me would feel weird.  I also thought that having the pump on me at all times would affect my performance in sports.  The idea of going on the pump just seemed like a bad decision to me.

            But then my sister, who is also a diabetic, decided to go on the Insulin Pump.  A few days after going on the pump my sister seemed to like it.  Now she could eat whatever and whenever she wanted.   While I on the other hand, still had to eat on a scheduled times since I was still on insulin syringes.  I also noticed that my sister still played soccer and other sports and the pump didn’t affect the way she played. 

             The Insulin Pump was designed so people could take it off if they felt like it could get damaged in the sport they were playing like football or hockey.  Then after the game or practice they could simply put it back on.  (Taking the pump “on” and “off” is different from changing the site.  Changing the site is when you take the insulin port out from your body every 3 days and place it in a different spot, like your leg or stomach.  Taking the pump “off” is when you detach the Insulin Pump from the port on your body without taking the entire port out of the spot.)

So with the encouragement of my family and the persuasion of the doctors I decided to go on the Insulin Pump.  It was hard and strange to get used to at first, but it paid off in the end.  Now I continue to play tennis and can eat anytime I want.  The Insulin Pump has made my life so much easier! I love the Insulin Pump and encourage anyone with diabetes who still uses syringes to switch to it!

This is a picture of the Insulin Port that can be attacked to your arms, legs, stomach, or butt.

This is a picture of me taking "off" the Insulin Pump.  The port itself stays in my body but the top cap can come off if you want to play a sport or swim in the water.  If i was going to change my pump i would take both parts out completely.  

This is a picture of my insulin pump.  As you can see it is small, looks like a cell phone, and can fit in your hand.

Heat and Diabetes

Diabetics should always be aware of their blood sugar, especially in heat.  Heat can affect people with Type I Diabetes.  Due to the heat or hot temperatures, diabetics' blood sugars seem to drop, even if they are just sitting in a room.

In the past two days of school my classrooms have been 90 degrees or higher.  I found my blood sugar dropping low in points throughout the day when it never should have, especially since I am just sitting in the classroom and not doing any exercise.  When I found myself dropping low I would drink a juice box to boost my blood sugar up to the normal range, which for me is 100.  Generally when my classrooms are hot like that I need to bring more juice boxes than I normally do so I do not run out.  

When I first discovered this I thought I was the only one who was affected by the heat.  But I talked to another diabetic and he said the same thing.   When he stays in a hot temperature room or place his blood sugar will drop.  Heat has an interesting effect on some diabetics because it will cause their blood sugar to drop.  This DOES NOT happen to all diabetics but has an impact on most of them.

  

So if you know you will be going to a place that is 85 degrees or above for more than 40 minutes, I suggest you bring extra juices with yourself.  And if you don't feel like your normal self, CHECK YOUR BLOOD SUGAR!!!!   There is no harm in testing your blood sugar even if your low blood sugar is a false alarm.