When Bradley and I head off to Bali, we intend on taking surf lessons and spending three weeks in the water! I have surfed on and off before….I say surf, what I mean is I try to surf, I have yet to actually successfully stand on the board, but that will take practice.
On my random surf occasions I would just take off my insulin pump and do an hour of surfing then come back in, test my blood sugars, and give any insulin if I needed it. I usually didn’t need any insulin because of the intensity of exercise surfing entails.
So I began to wonder how would I manage in the water long-term and for a few weeks. To curb my curiosity and get some advice, I decided to ask a surfing expert, Zach Toth, founder of Travelbetic, which is a blog dedicated to travelling and surfing with diabetes.
In December 2013 on my 22nd birthday... Happy birthday to me!
When I was first diagnosed I had a hard time accepting my new life. I didn’t want to talk about diabetes with anyone. I felt isolated, like I was fighting the battle alone. When I started traveling again I did a lot of web research on info like how to keep insulin safe on trips and where to purchase test strips abroad. Through my engagement online I discovered the hugely helpful diabetes online community (#DOC). This wonderful community inspired me to expect nothing and accept everything, to use type 1 as a motivator and take life head on. I began to discover my new voice and talk openly about diabetes, advocating T1D awareness among my family and friends.
During my research on travel with T1D I noticed a sort of void in diabetes travel info and inspiration on the web. Travel has been an integral part of my life since I can remember. A few short months after diagnosis I was back to my globe trotting ways. This void was an opportunity to put my new voice and confidence to good use. The inspiration of 100s of type 1s in the #DOC inspired me to share my story and contribute to the narrative that type 1 diabetes can’t stop us from anything. Travelbetic became my platform to share my journey, challenge the stigma of T1D and offer some tips along the way.
Pens all day! I tried a pump but they don’t like surfing very much. You can read about my decision to switch back to pens here: Pens vs Pumps - Why I Choose MDI over a Pump
Since I was 12, so about 13 years now
Yes definitely! Before diabetes I could surf for hours without worrying about a thing. I would skip meals and come in super undernourished. That can’t happen anymore. Surfing burns carbs faster than anything else I’ve tried. It was and still is a challenge to maintain safe blood sugar levels out in the water.
It took time and a lot of learning from failure but I figured out a system that works most of the time. Surfing is my life blood there was no way I was going to let some autoimmune deficiency keep me out of the water. You can read all about how I manage my blood sugar while surfing here: Surfing with Type 1 Diabetes
Yes lots of hypos! This is definitely the main concern when surfing with T1D. I figured out a method of carb loading that keeps my sugars up during a surf. I'll eat around 30 grams of carbs before paddling out without bolusing, aiming to get my blood sugar around 225 mg/dl (12.5 mmol/L). This allows me to surf for around 2 hours without dropping below 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/L). The downside; skipping an injection can put you at risk for ketones. I try to carb load right before paddling out to minimize that risk.
I usually stash some gelatin free gummies in my board short pocket or wetsuit. All of my insulin and other supplies stay in the car or hidden on the beach. Sometimes I’ll throw my phone in a waterproof bag and take it out with me so I can watch my blood sugar level from my CGM on my smart watch.
I use OPsite Flexfix tape on my Dexcom CGM. It is a bit tough to cut and apply properly but it's rather waterproof.
Absolutely! Especially if you’re new to surfing. It’s a good idea for everyone to surf with a buddy. The ocean can be unpredictable.
Start doing pushups now. Surfing brings you to terms with your honest upper body strength. The ocean is a powerful force.
And also, have fun! That's the easy part.
That is a tough one. I think I have to go with Ecuador. Nicest people ever and waves every day.
I am always travelling with an insulin pump, and since Zach is on insulin pens, I decided to have a look at the waterproof nature of insulin pumps, since that's what I use. Zach has lots of info on his site, but I reached out to some of the pump companies to get official statements! If you do decide to pump and surf, then make sure you are aware that your insulin pump is waterproof, or invest in a waterproof case.
Surfer Rob Blase has said he picked the Medtronic insulin pump
“For one, another surfer was already using a Medtronic, and he loved it. For another, the company was working on a waterproof housing so that the device could be worn in the water.”
Since then, the new MiniMed 640g System (the one I am hoping to get next) is waterproof according to their website. I contacted Metrondic for their advice on surfing with their insulin pumps, and here's what they had to say
“To confirm the MiniMed 640G utilizes a more consumer-friendly design, additional waterproofing and more customization. At the time of manufacture, the pump is waterproof in up to 12 feet of water for 24 hours at a time. Additionally, the Guardian 2 Link transmitter is waterproof in up to 8 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.”
I also contacted Freestyle about their libres in the water, and here is their official response!
“The wear time of a FreeStyle Libre sensor is dependent upon many factors, including, but not limited to your skin type and the activities that you undertake while wearing a sensor. Intense activities whereby a user is continually moving or repeatedly in and out of water, may reduce the sensor wear time.”
What I got from that was, a sensor may not be durable for intense water sports, I may have to switch off Libre for the few weeks I am surfing, or attempt it in the water...has anyone surfed with the libre? Any advice would be great!
I contacted Roche & Animas too but I am waiting on their responses. I shall add them in when they get back to me!
As you can see from Zach's amazing surf record, diabetes does not stop you in the slightest, he is an inspiration and a fantastic ambassador for living life to the fullest with type 1 diabetes. Thank you Zach for answering my questions, and helping me feel more secure about surfing with type 1 diabetes and I cannot wait to get my surf on in Bali and the rest of the world!
Leave a comment
Let us know what you think!