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Me and my wife are new to diving. I ran across this scuda device that allows you to drink under water http://www.scuda.com/The_SCUDA.htm
I am looking because my wife is diabetic and we would like to put juice in it just in case of low blood sugar.
Has any one used this? If so what do you think of it.
There was a thread on this board that discussed that very product. Do a search for diabetes and you should find it. It was sometime last week.
I haven't used that product, but I carry a tube of glucose paste that I can put in my mouth underwater. It's alot cheaper then having to buy a product like this. Just a thought.
Drinking underwater is very popular with some cave divers. Some use camelbacks for this kind of thing. Since liquid is not really compressable, it works out quite well. I guess it's nice to take a drink at 300ft after diving for 12 hours.
iit is the diabetes that concerns me. I wear an insulin pump. Wondering if I should take it off. I am guessing so because of the pressure. If I get a little glucose hi, lots better than a low. Maybe I messed up on my original post. And until I get my confidence back up, you will have to have binoculars to see me if you are at 300 ft. I will be 50ish max for a while. It may all return and be comfortable fast. But I have more things to do before pushing the limits.
The downside of the scuda for your purpose is 1) the size, and 2) having to clean out and maintain something you keep around "just in case".
A tube of glucose would be much simpler, smaller, and no maintenance. I once dove with a guy that had a glucose tube in a small pouch, similar to those made for shears, clipped off to his chest D-ring. He dives most weekends and the boat crew knew to be at the swimstep with a sugary drink if he aborted a dive. We didn't go into details, but I'm pretty sure that he let his glucose go a bit towards the high side on dive mornings. He would test his glucose level and inject insulin in the parking lot after the dive.
Another simple alternative is the Capri Sun juice packs. About 6 ounces or so of juice (or at least juice flavored water ) in a foil pouch that collapses nicely as you drink. Kind of like a miniature, one use only scuda.
Instead of the Scuda I have used a plastic bladder and hose intended for back packing. I put the bladder in my BC pocket and attached the hose to my LP inflater hose. It's a lot cheaper and worked fine. I found it was more of a PITA than I cared to deal with but it did work well.
Herman, did your unit have one of those "bite to drin" type dispensers? Does that work well underwater? I've been real anxious to try it. Especially in salt water where I get really thirsty.
If I remember correctly, it was a Platapus brand. It has a soft plastic end piece that you bit down on slightly to open it. The first little bit of water was salty, from the water on the outside I suspect but after the first sip the water tasted finel. I just found it more of a pain to fill/install/carry than it was worth for the dives I do but it did deliver water well and was a lot cheaper than the Scuda.
IMHO, Charlie99 has made good points and alternative suggestions.
As regards, "I wear an insulin pump. Wondering if I should take it off. I am guessing so because of the pressure," the answer is, "yes." Even the hardiest of these pumps are not rated for use beyond shallow depths. All manufacturers of which I am aware indicate that their units are not designed to be used while diving. Even those who have designed their systems to be waterproof only test and approve them to ~10-15 feet. I have heard several stories of pumps falling apart at depths in the 20-30 foot range. Moreover, even given a system that could withstand significant depths there are other issues. Divers I know who are on pumps disconnect and leave them topside while diving.
"The Un-Tethered Regimen" http://www.diabetes123.com/clinic/untethered.htm, written by a well-known diabetologist who has the condition himself, provides a protocol for controlling bg while diving, amongst other physical activities.
Helpful?
This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual and should not be construed as such.
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