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Insulin Pumps and Rollercoasters

lauralethal93

Member
Messages
7
Location
Cornwall, UK
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello everyone, here with a very specific question for you all!

I have an appointment on Friday where I'm finally being told whether I'm getting a pump or not (only been waiting a year for it.....). I've looked at the pros and cons of pumps and I, without a doubt, do want one. I just have one very specific concern with it - How do I make a pump work with rollercoasters?

I'm a rollercoaster enthusiast and I regularly travel to Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Blackpool, etc. I'm a stickler for not going on a rollercoaster unless my pockets are empty so how do I get this to work with a pump? I don't fancy losing my pump at the bottom of the pits that some coasters sit in.... I've had a quick glance and found that I may be able to get the disabled passes but as someone who uses fastrack a lot, the pass would be useless to me.

I know that pumps can be disconnected but what's the max. amount of time with that? I normally carry a bag into queues with me so the pump can go in there while I'm riding the coaster. Anyone else have experience with this and just shed some light on it please? It's my biggest concern considering that half my life is currently spent on these massive rides!
 
Rollercoasters. You had me from the title. I thought you meant cascading blood sugars. But you meant an actual rollercoaster. Well done on getting a pump.
 
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ert said:
Rollercoasters. You had me from the title. I thought you meant cascading blood sugars. But you meant actual rollercoaster. Well done on getting a pump.
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Ahaha, I didn't think about that but considering my sugars at the moment I could very much be a rollercoaster designer at this point. Thank you!
 
I'm getting a pump soon as well and wondering where to put it when sailing. I was going to try a running belt around the waist. Google 'running belt mobile phone' and few things look like they'll do the job.
 
Hey you're in Cornwall as well. Dishing insulin pumps out like sweets! Did you get a choice of pumps? I could only have a minimed 640g.
 
eventhorizon said:
I'm getting a pump soon as well and wondering where to put it when sailing. I was going to try a running belt around the waist. Google 'running belt mobile phone' and few things look like they'll do the job.
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Ooh, I'll have to look them up. My only concern would be coasters with lap bars that have to normally sit really tight on your waist and I'm not sure if even a small bag would get in the way.

eventhorizon said:
Hey you're in Cornwall as well. Dishing insulin pumps out like sweets! Did you get a choice of pumps? I could only have a minimed 640g.
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I have no idea yet! I went for an appointment with the pump specialist last year where I put my case across as to why I want/need one and didn't hear back until recently when I kept mentioning it to my nurse. Friday is my yes/no appointment I think with the doctor but my nurse is 99% sure I'm getting one. I just gotta wait and see!
 
@lauralethal93 i thought you were asking if the magnets on rollercoasters would impact your pump.
This may be an issue to be checked.
However, for the length of a rollercoaster trip, you can unplug your pump. Just like you can unplug it when you go swimming or have a shower. If you remove your pump for 30 minutes or more, you can bolus the equivalent of a top up basal.
If this is the way forward, a tube pump rather than a patch pump (e.g. Medtronic rather than OmniPod) would be better for rollercoasters.
 
I guess my question would be since you want your pockets empty does that mean you go without a purse? Or do you hand off stuff to someone or?
 
And do you carry emergency hypo gear whilst on the rollercoaster?
If you disconnected your very expensive pump when on the 'coaster, where could you safely leave it?
Do you know whether your actual BSLs are adversely affected by the thrill of riding on a roller coaster?
And a question to ask your health team is whether use of a pump will make that more manageable?
Use of a pump, or just in an effort to improve your bsl control, have you also though about the pros and cons of wearing a continous glucose monitoring device whilst roller coasting?
And is there another way to better manage your bsls without a pump,( just to be Devil's advocate)?
 
Good luck tomorrow! I was put on a waiting list of 7 months after they approved funding plus another month to start training. I previously attended a NHS DAFNE type course which helped and they sent me to a dietician to check my carb counting was up to speed. Despite and few sensible and necessary hoops to jump few I've found everybody very supportive.
 
I'd never even considered the magnets to be honest. I was more worried about potentially losing it if I keep it attached. I will ask about that, however.

If I can detach for 30 minutes then that's absolutely fine. I can take it off just as I'm about to board, put it in my bag, and just reattach normally no more than 5 minutes later when I grab my bag again. Thanks for the info!
 
Marie 2 said:
I guess my question would be since you want your pockets empty does that mean you go without a purse? Or do you hand off stuff to someone or?
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I take a backpack into the queue with me for parks in the UK anyway. Leave the bag in specific areas in the stations and grab it again when I get off. I went to a park in the US a few weeks ago where I couldn't take a bag into the queue and used a locker. Took dextro tabs with me just in case of a hypo in the queue but that was it. I'm thinking of taking 'pump holidays' when I go abroad though.


I've never seen a major change in my levels while on a coaster so that I'm not worried about. My hypo kit sits in a bag as I said above which is where my disconnected pump would go. I already have a Libre and have had it for a few months so that's fine whenever I go to theme parks and on coasters. My nurse has told me that the next step is a pump. I'm doing all I can and I'm heading in the right direction but it's still not where it needs to be.
 
Well then a Omnipod might work for you. The pod stays on you and continues to work and you could leave the reader in your purse. The only thing I was wondering is you can't suspend insulin without the reader, other than taking off the pod, but if you don't drop and you have dextro tabs with you that shouldn't be an issue.

You don't have to disconnect anything, just stick the reader in your bag.

I go snorkeling all the time with my pod on and leave the reader in the car.
 
@Marie 2 as I mentioned previously, a patch pump cannot be removed. If there is a problem with the mechanics of the pump and the electro-magnetic brakes on the rollercoaster, this would not be ideal.
I don't want to be accused of scaremongering but would suggest this is checked out. It was a question by DSN asked of my patch pump rep and they didn't know the answer.
 
In Australia an insulin pump costs somewhere between AUD 7,000 to 9,500.
I would certainly not be leaving it in a designated but unsecured area.
You might be obtaining one via universal healthcare but if you lose a pump through not being careful enough
are they likely to replace it?
 
Magnets are a little bit of a concern. Considering they're used in the brakes and launches, a pump may not get on with them. Something I'll definitely bring up tomorrow just in case. I'm not sure if I get a choice or not but I like the look of the Medtronic more than anything.


I need to buy my own insurance. The NHS won't provide me with another one if I lose or break it. If it came to it then I'd switch back to MDI for a day but I want this pump to preferably work with my everyday life which does involve many theme park trips!
 
You would need to read the insurance contract to ensure you would be covered for the type of activites and use of pumpyou envisage. Good luck!
 
kitedoc said:
You would need to read the insurance contract to ensure you would be covered for the type of activites and use of pumpyou envisage. Good luck!
Click to expand...
It is common to have lockers for bags at theme parks as no bags can go on roller coasters.
I see this the same as putting my handbag (with my pump) in a locker when I go swimming. Perfectly normal if you are familiar with these environments.
 
You could stick in a bra (sports ones work best) or a specially designed pump punch.
I once tried to get out of doing a Tough Mudder race on the basis that I could not risk electrocution whilst wearing a pump! (its one of the obstacles). Enjoy your rides!
https://www.funkypumpers.com/
or garters
https://www.etsy.com/uk/market/insu...MIz5nfjZKP4wIV2pTVCh1M6AOXEAMYAyAAEgI_EvD_BwE
 
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