I travel often for work as a marketing consultant, and over the years, I’ve grown used to airport chaos and long flights. The one thing I’ve never gotten used to, though, is living with type 1 diabetes. It means I have to carefully monitor my blood sugar and always carry snacks in case it drops suddenly. Most people are understanding when I explain this—until a recent flight from Chicago to Seattle.

That morning had been hectic. By the time I boarded, I was already feeling shaky, a clear sign my blood sugar was falling. I reached for my protein bar, but the woman sitting next to me quickly asked me not to eat. She said her young son, sitting nearby, had “sensitivities” and would get upset if he saw or smelled food. Wanting to avoid conflict, I reluctantly put the bar away and decided to wait for the snack cart.

When the cart finally arrived, the boy’s parents asked the flight attendant not to serve me anything, insisting it would upset their child. My hands were trembling by then, and I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. I calmly explained to the attendant—and everyone around us—that I had diabetes and needed to eat immediately for my health. The flight attendant quickly brought me food and a drink, and the nearby passengers looked stunned as they realized what was happening.

The rest of the flight was quiet. The boy never even looked up from his tablet, and the parents didn’t speak to me again. That day reminded me that standing up for your health isn’t rude—it’s essential. Sometimes, advocating for yourself teaches others an important truth: everyone’s ne