Swimming with an Insulin Pump: Tips for Taking the Plunge

If you recently started using an insulin pump, or have been on a pump but are just getting back in the water, it may take some trial and error to settle on a swimming routine that works for you. You will naturally want to follow your doctor’s and pump manufacturer’s advice for swimming with a pump. Add to that suggestions from seasoned pump users who are also swimmers, and you will be ready to stick your toe in the water.

Disconnecting Temporarily

Unless your pump is waterproof or in a waterproof case, you will disconnect the tubing from the infusion set before diving in. Remember to keep one or two infusion set caps with your diabetes supplies to cap your set before getting wet.


Some people wrap the disconnected pump in a towel to keep it clean, dry, and away from direct sunlight. Others put the pump in a plastic bag and pop it in the cooler holding their other diabetes supplies.

Before disconnecting the pump, it is wise to take a glucose reading. If your blood sugar is within normal limits, the pump can be off for one to two hours – see what your doctor recommends.

People’s bodies react differently to exercising while off the pump. Some individuals will experience a rise in glucose, and others will notice a drop. So, blood sugar levels should be checked every half hour while swimming, and again after drying off for the day. Frequent swimmers who are experienced pump users, and know-how their body responds to aquatic exercise, may be able to check less often.


Experts recommend swimmers dry their hands thoroughly before testing since wet fingers may affect the accuracy of a glucose reading.

Keeping the Infusion Set On

The most common problem for pump-using swimmers is the effect of water on the infusion set adhesive. The flow of water around the edge of an adhesive patch, or tape, can loosen its grip. Swimmers typically must use trial and error to find what keeps a set stuck to their skin in water.

Some frequent-swimmer suggestions for staying stuck to your infusion set are:

  • wear a very light-weight wet suit t-shirt over the infusion site.
  • wear a snug one-piece swimsuit, or board shorts, to help secure the site.
  • cover the area with a large water-block band-aide (Johnson company).
  • prepare the admin site with IV prep wipes or a tacky skin prep product, and secure the set with IV3000 tape.
  • cover the set with Tegaderm.
  • use tincture of benzoin (liquid bandaid) around the edges of the set adhesive patch (some people may be allergic to the tincture so test on a small area of skin first).

The different tapes and skin preps available can irritate sensitive skin. Check for redness or rashes when using a new product.


Wearing Your Pump in the Water

If your pump is labeled waterproof, make sure you know what the manufacturer means by that. It could mean the pump can withstand the occasional splash of water or that it is submersible. Some submersible pumps must have their chamber vents plugged prior to entering the water, and you will need to secure the tubing.

Those who love exploring aquatic depths, know that waterproof pumps are designed for use near the water’s surface (within about nine feet of the surface). They are not made for scuba diving.

The newer tubeless insulin pumps are what many diabetic frequent-swimmers recommend. The pumping mechanism, cannula, needle, and reservoir for insulin are tucked into a small wearable unit. Insulin delivery is programmed into the handheld Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM) that signals the pump unit digitally. However, the pump’s adhesive is easily loosened by water so users have to deal with that issue.

amazon
Sources: Diabetes, Diabetes Health, Diabetes 24-7
Photo: Pixabay


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...