Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.
I was stopped because my bag was larger than allowed. Once I showed them my medical supplies and they ran the bag through the scanner everything was fine.
In my job, I occasionally have to go into data centers. They all have pretty heavy security, but one of them has a metal detector you have to walk through and an x-ray for bags. I thought that one of my devices wasn’t supposed to go through one of those. Naturally, I couldn’t remember which device or which thing. So I told them I couldn’t xray my controllers/receivers or walk through the metal detector. The guards didn’t seem like they had a procedure for the situation, but they let me in.
Once going into a Cubs game, I was carrying a small cooler. Yes, I was asked about it, but when I told the man at the gate why I was bringing in the cooler, he allowed me to pass. I’m guessing this has all changed by now because that was quite awhile ago.
Yes, but they were doing their job, and once I explained it was fine.
Early on in T1D life, I went to Nashville for NCAA basketball playoffs. Entering the arena, I was carrying my little bag with needle tips, meter, stick, etc. Guard asked me what this was and I told him medical supplies. He didn’t open the bag but rubbed his hands over the outside of it. He said, “let me guess, you’re a diabetic”.
I said “other.” I’ve not been prevented from entering anywhere, but I have had to work around “no bags/purses allowed” rules.
Yes, My bag has been checked at baseball games, airports, concerts. The most interesting was at my bank. The bank guard apologized, but I thanked him, and welcomed him to check my bag anytime. I have gotten to the point where I just walk up to any gate, or entry person, when I go somewhere and offer to allow them to look in my bag. Sometimes they look, sometimes they just wave me through. It’s funny because I carry a large variety of snacks, honey and juice bottles in my bag. I also carry my own food because of my celiac disease.
I wasn’t stopped from going in but I had to put all my supplies in a clear bag that they provided. Now I have a clear zip bag that I use of going to an arena, etc. No issues with that.
Yes, at sporting events, but they’ve always let me in with my supplies.
I haven’t been stopped because I know to read the policies ahead of time. They are getting more and more restrictive though.
This is such a fun question, being a fruit mule is what I’m here for. Picnics forbidden? Not on my watch.
Yes, at a small but popular museum on outskirts of Rome, Italy. I had to put my supplies in a plastic bag at coat check. I protested to no avail. I felt nervous the whole time because I was then wearing the Medtronic pump and not accurate Enlite sensor. There were many steps in the museum.
Yikes. This reminds me of a nightmare I had once (twice?)
Hasn’t happened recently (haven’t gone anywhere in the past 15 months). Usually larger events with their own concessions (sports events). I tell them I’m a T1D, show my med bracelet (that’s helpful reinforcement), and they wave me through.
I have. Now that there are metal detectors I always tell them I am wearing an insulin pump and have been asked about candy in my bag. I don’t carry a lot so it’s usually something that they let slide.
Sneak snacks into the movies, carry snacks everywhere especially to the dance studio. Enough for everyone to rummage in my bag and help themselves. Movies it’s more cause the candy is so overpriced. Big jar of individually wrapped miniature chocolates on my desk for everyone. They know if my Dexcom G6 starts beeping to come over and see that I eat.
Luckily when I explain they usually screen my bag privately off to the side and sometimes mark my bag with a medical tag so that any other security staff knows that I’ve already been screened and ok to be in the event with my bag.
After 9/11 at an airport
I tell whoever is at the gate that I have type one diabetes and have the snacks for emergencies. They usually get too uncomfortable to ask questions and do not care enough so they just wave me through.
I had Skittles in my purse for low blood sugar. They saw them and said I couldn’t take food in. I told them I was T1 and they said ‘ok.’
I brought a bag that was too big for the venue so that I could carry my supplies, they said I should have checked the rules ahead of time, but ultimately let me go in.
Yes, at Fenway Park once. But I was allowed in after I explained. At Denver Int’l Airport, however, I once needed to discard my 6 oz juice boxes since they were too big….it’s getting harder to find the smaller 4 oz size.
When I was in Mexico City the bouncer wouldn’t let me into the bar after finding my meter in my bag. They didn’t understand what it was and wanted to keep my meter as security until I was ready to leave the bar. Obviously that didn’t happen… I found someone to translate in Spanish to better explain the bouncer why I needed to keep my meter with me.
I just explain the situation and have never had an issue.
Happens all the time, particularly at large sporting events where everyone is wanded and limitations on food and liquids exist. Over the years, the good news is that most of the security people are a lot more knowledgeable about diabetes; that’s also the bad news as many have revealed they have family members with diabetes.
I’ve had to dispose of yogurt before boarding an airplane.
I was stopped by a young airline employee when boarding a plane with 3 bags, one of which (a big one-could fit a plump pillow) was for medical supplies. I think her attitude was influenced by my looking like a “healthy” person, not apparently old and decrepit. She asked whether I used a CPAP, which I do not, and then said I was not allowed to board. I said, “Would you like to see what is in here? Let’s have a look.” Some grownup employee made her let me pass before I got it open. All this after having the pat-down because I won’t go into their millimeter wave machine (damages devices) and even though they let parents with kids go through the metal detector instead, and I have TSA Precheck (gave fingerprints etc.), I’m not allowed that option. I drive whenever it’s within a couple of days’ travel.
Questioned and told outside food or beverage isn’t allowed, yes absolutely. But the moment I say it’s because I have T1Diabetes, I’ve been waved through. I be never been actually prevented from entering.
The only place I’ve had a hard time entering with my pump was a temple in India. They were super strict about there not being any cell phones in the temple and I was stopped multiple time by people working there. After explaining to many different people I was able to keep my pump on.
I have never been prevented from entering an event due to the contents in my bag. Security will ask about it, but usually saying “I have type 1 diabetes” is enough for them. Most events I’ve attended have taken place in California, but I’ve also been to a concert in Dublin, Ireland and Barcelona, Spain, and had no issues there either. I usually carry fruit snacks or glucose tabs and no liquids.