I am interested in finding out how others have managed their diabetes while surfing. I am using Omnipod5 and Dexcom 6 and I suspend my pump for 2 hours while I’m in the water. I am especially interested in where on the body (under a wetsuit) do others place their pumps and CGMs so that won’t interfere with getting in and out of a wetsuit or interfere with laying on their board while paddling.
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@LaurenF - did you wear a wetsuit when you went whitewater rafting?
I did not, mostly because of the temperature (it was about 100F/38C)! I imagine that would have made disconnecting and reconnecting my pump more challenging, I hadn’t thought about it much.
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Hi @Eddie!
There is not much published literature on this topic, but we (at Stanford) have been gathering some data to better understand and support people doing water-based activities!
General considerations:
- It may be quite person-dependent where to wear devices for surfing, but I have worn my CGM on the back of the arm and have tried wearing the Omnipod 5 on the opposite arm, upper buttocks, or lower back (I find the stomach was more difficult to wear CGM or Pods for surfing, particularly while lying down on the board)
- Overlay tapes can be really helpful for keeping devices on body, particularly if not covered by the wetsuit
- In some instances, we have seen the wetsuit or neoprene layer can block communication between devices (likely because of the material/neoprene itself)
- If you notice issues with communication between devices, consider taking breaks from the water every hour to ensure you can do a fingerstick glucose check or allow your devices to communicate outside of the water
- Generally, try to avoid prolonged pump suspension during activity (“prolonged” typically means 120 mins or longer of pump disconnect for contact sports and/or water-based activities)
- With Omnipod 5, since it can be worn in the water, you don’t necessarily need to stop insulin delivery. Instead, can try to set Activity Feature 1-2 hours before surfing and suspend only if needed. But, if you are noticing lows during surfing and suspending the pump works for you, that’s great (just avoid suspending for >2 hours at a time)
- If you are suspending an automated insulin delivery (AID) system like Omnipod 5, consider resuming the pump every hour for a small amount of insulin delivery. For example: deliver 50% of your usual basal insulin every hour (to avoid prolonged pump suspension and risk of hyperglycemia or ketones)
Hope these tips are helpful! I’d love to hear what works for you and others 
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Hi @Eddie,
I found the best spot for a CGM when surfing was sort of low back/upper cheek below the waistline. There’s a sweet spot where it won’t interfere with sitting or your clothes. This works pretty well as you’re not laying on it while paddling and there’s less risk of ripping it off when you’re peeling your wetsuit off since it’s near the bottom of the zipper and the wetsuit isn’t usually super tight there once it’s unzipped (unless you’ve got a half zip). The only downside to this is that if you’re a back sleeper, you’ll probably lose connection off and on overnight. This spot worked less well for pods because they stick out more and would hit the backs of chairs when I sat, so, I usually just put those on my arms and try to be careful to not rip them off getting in and out of a wetsuit. Another option for the pods, if you’ve got enough “meat,” so to speak, is behind your shoulders/over your traps. Pods are definitely out of the way there and there’s not much risk of accidentally ripping them off getting in and out of a wetsuit. It’s not a location a lot of folks use, but it does work for me.
Hi Eddie I do NOT surf but I have snorkeled in the carribean for more than 25 years. Prolonged immersion in salt water ( 3+ hours or more) tends to cause my sites to detach and come off. Front waitline was problematic. One thing that worked well was using my Dexcom G6/G7 with a clear waterproof bag so I could read the Dexcom screen from my phone. I used a clear Pelican case that wasn’t too expensive
Hello DessiZ,
Thank you very much for your response. I’ll let you know how things work out. I haven’t surfed in 3 weeks as the surf has been very poor in North San Diego county.
Sounds good, hope the weather clears up soon! I’m heading back to Melbourne for a few weeks for work, but I’ll try and get out surfing again and we can share some stories and updates with each other soon! 
Thanks for your suggestion regarding using a Pelican case.
A couple of questions:
What sise of case did you use?
Do you have your Dexcom6 on your phone or do you view it on a PDM?
Thanks,
Eddie
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Hi Eddie, my brother is also Type 1, just like me. He’s a surfer, and his favorite placement for the Dexcom when surfing is on his abdomen. He also uses a patch from Not Just a Patch, which helps keep his sensor protected from water. I swim as well, and we both enjoy our water activities without having to worry about our sensors. Hope this helps you!
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Eddie Pelican makes several 8" and 7" ‘micro cases’ I no longer see the one I used but it was a thinner plastic shell that my phone fit inside. It wasn’t always ideal but generally speaking it did function…I am thinking that a phone app might be easier now
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Great question! Some surfers use Not Just a Patch or waterproof covers to keep sensors secure under wetsuits. Many place their CGM on the upper thigh or side of the torso to avoid pressure points while paddling. Curious where others have found the best placement!
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