Type 1 Diabetes Travel Story: Insulin Pumps & Paradise Preparedness- A T1D Tale from Cancun 

Hey guys! Welcome back to my blog, where I share some of the highs and lows from my journey with Type 1 Diabetes, as well as some of my ridiculous mishaps. This time, I’ve got a travel story for you that’s both funny and a little nerve-wracking. Although, it certainly wasn’t funny at the time. It’s about my trip to Cancun, Mexico, back in Spring Break 2001, and how one small mistake almost ruined my vacation. What could go wrong in paradise, right? Well, let me tell you about my insulin pump and what it means to be prepared. 

*So, picture it: I was 16 years old, Cancun, Mexico, Spring Break 2001. I was lucky enough to get invited along on my best friend’s family vacation, to the Moon Palace Resort. (Stunningly amazing resort, on a side note. I mean how gorgeous is this?)  An absolute dream come true. It had everything you could want in a vacation spot: white sandy beaches, crystal-clear pools, and plenty of fun in the sun. 

It was a big deal because it was my first time traveling outside the U.S. without my parents, and this was also my first trip with my brand-new insulin pump, a teal Medtronic MiniMed 515. I was super excited to have the freedom that the pump offered, but I was still figuring out the best way to take care of it while enjoying my vacation. I made sure to pack enough supplies for my insulin pump and test strips for my glucometer.  (No CGMs back then).  That and the perfect swimsuit, and we’re out, baby!  Fun & Sun!  I was 16, with no worries about T1D here!  I GOT THIS! 

The pump was a lifesaver when it came to managing my diabetes. Before I had it, I had to do all the calculations for my insulin injections manually, which meant constant pricking and poking. The pump was like a little miracle—it did all the math for me and delivered the insulin automatically, so I could focus on having fun. 

But here’s the thing: insulin pumps back then weren’t waterproof, so you had to disconnect them when you wanted to swim. And as any 16-year-old would tell you, you don’t want to be the odd one out who isn’t splashing around in the pool or floating down the lazy river. 

I knew from my pump training classes that I had to be careful with temperature and keep it away from extreme temperatures. Insulin needs to be kept at a specific range—somewhere between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit, but never too hot or too cold. If it got too hot, the insulin could break down, and if it got too cold, it could freeze. Plus, the pump itself could be damaged by extreme temperatures, just like a cell phone left in the sun. Knowing this, I was concerned about leaving my pump out in the scorching Cancun heat while I went for a swim. 

Naturally, my best friend and I were eager to hit the pool and soak up some sun! So, we staked out our chairs by the pool, laid out our towels, and soaked up the sun for a bit to work on our tans. We had 7 days to cultivate that perfect vacation tan (aka: super killer sunburn) that will make all our pasty Michigan friends back home jealous. 

But, it didn’t take long for us to get overheated soaking up the gorgeous Cancun sun, so we decided it was time to cool off and take a dip in the pool. 

But first, I had to disconnect my pump before swimming, and being a pump newbie, I was worried about leaving it out in the sun. So, that’s when I came up with a seemingly genius idea: I would fill a plastic bag with ice, put my pump on top, and zip it up. That way, it would stay cool and be safe from the sun. I tucked it under my chair in the shade, thinking it would be just fine while I enjoyed the pool. 

Could I have just left it in the air-conditioned room?  Yes, but I was 16, and we don’t have that sort of insight, and also it was an extremely far walk back to the room, or a golf cart ride away. 

We had a blast swimming and floating down the lazy river, not a care in the world. Fast forward to when I got out of the pool to reconnect my pump—it was a disaster. My heart sank. The ice had melted, and water had leaked into my pump, frying it completely. The screen was a mess of weird lines and glitches, and it was clear that my pump was dead. I freaked out, of course. This was only day one of our trip, and I had no backup plan! I was in panic mode. 

I told my friend, and she told her mom, who, thankfully, remained calm, and set out on a mission to figure out what to do. She took us to the resort medic, but there was a major language barrier. The medic only spoke Spanish, and my Spanish was limited to a few basic phrases like, “¿Dónde está el baño?” 

They couldn’t do much to help, so we had to call my parents back in the United States. 

Now, this was 2001, (think pre-cellphone era) and international calling was a big deal—expensive, complicated, and not something you did casually. You had to buy calling cards, and each minute cost a fortune. But my mom was amazing. She managed to contact my endocrinologist, who calculated new long-acting and short-acting insulin dosages, then relayed the information back to us. 

*Side note: I can’t imagine the fear a parent has when their child is having a major medical malfunction in another country.  Or jeez, what about my bestie’s mom who hadn’t even had the opportunity to relax with a margarita in paradise before this tag-along child screwed up her vacation?  Mom’s, man, they’re the best! 

However, there was another problem. I had only brought enough pump supplies—no backup syringes, no insulin pens, nothing. I was stuck in Mexico with a broken pump and no way to administer my insulin. But here’s where the universe stepped in to help. My best friend’s aunt, who was also insulin-dependent (type 2 diabetic), had packed extra insulin pens and needles. She had brought enough for both of us to make it through the trip. Talk about a lifesaver! Thanks to her, I was able to get the insulin I needed without any more major incidents. Vacation saved!  I’m a very lucky lady – the universe truly had my back! 

So, that’s my story of how my insulin pump almost ruined my vacation, but thanks to some quick thinking and a generous friend, I was able to turn things around. 

The whole experience taught me a valuable lesson about being prepared, especially when traveling with a medical condition like Type 1 Diabetes. 

Takeaway #1: ALWAYS pack MORE THAN ENOUGH supplies, and back up supplies.  Now, I take at least double on vacations. That way, if you drop an infusion set (which I’ve done) or a vial of insulin (done that too – – the smell of insulin all over the bathroom floor could be a blog post on its own), you’ve got back up! 

This includes syringes in case of emergency, even if you’re a pump wearer!  And this advice triples when you are traveling out of the country, where calling in a refill at your local-yet-nationwide pharmacy on every corner just isn’t an option. 

Trust me, you’ll be glad you have backups. 

Additional take-away: HALLELUJAH pumps are waterproof now! It only makes sense that a device which needs to be on a person 24/7, is waterproof! Who is the magical being that finally made that happen in life?!  If that had been the case in 2001, I wouldn’t have had to worry about disconnecting it or keeping it cool. 

I hope my story helps other T1Ds avoid similar mishaps when traveling. Don’t forget to leave your own pro-T1D-travel tips in the comments below!  And remember, don’t forget to pack extra supplies, you can never be too prepared! 

If you’re interested in more travel mishaps from a fellow Type 1 diabetic, don’t miss this blog post, “Have Pump Will Travel.” My friend and fellow counselor from Camp AZDA shares her story about a cruise gone wrong when she packed all her diabetes supplies in a bag that ended up getting wet and drifting away. Read about her unexpected adventure here. 

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next post! 

After encountering my own diabetes-related travel complications, I created this handy dandy, FREE Travel Checklist to help ensure I never get stranded or caught off guard while traveling abroad again. And because I care about your travel safety and want you to be prepared too, I’m giving it to you for free! Download it here to make your trips easier, more secure, and worry-free! 

Want to avoid diabetes-related travel mishaps? Download my free Travel Checklist for Type 1 Diabetics to ensure you’re always prepared, wherever you go. Click here for your free download and travel with confidence! 

Discover how to explore national parks for free, learn about diabetes support groups and camps, or navigate the complexities of finding life insurance with T1D. Check out my other blog posts for invaluable advice and inspiring stories. Click here to dive in!