As a marketing consultant, I travel often and have grown used to airport chaos and long flights.

What I’ll never get used to is living with type 1 diabetes. It means monitoring my blood sugar closely

and always carrying snacks in case it drops. Most people are understanding—until a recent flight from Chicago to Seattle.

That morning was hectic, and by the time I boarded, I was already shaky, a sure sign my blood sugar was falling.

I pulled out a protein bar, but the woman next to me quickly asked me not to eat. She said her son, sitting nearby,

had “sensitivities” and would get upset by food. Hoping to avoid conflict, I reluctantly put it away and waited for the snack cart.

When the cart came, the parents asked the attendant not to serve me anything. By then my hands were trembling. I explained calmly

that I had diabetes and needed to eat immediately. The flight attendant quickly brought food and a drink, while the surrounding passengers looked stunned.

The boy never even looked up from his tablet, and the parents stayed silent. That day reminded me: protecting your health isn’t rude—it’s necessary.