This question is for those of you who are religiously observant, or, like me, a BT in progress.

Of course, anyone OTD (or on that road) can post, but it won't help me in my situation - which is the entire reason for my posting this topic.

So, I'm no longer allowed to fast due to being diabetic (which is very upsetting to me) and, as I'll be back east for Rosh Hashana & return a day before Yom Kippur...I don't know if I should even get a ticket (I will donate the $$ if I don't go, so that isn't any part of my issue).

I contacted Chabad's Ask a Rabbi & he said that I can go, just take a little baggie of small snacks & go out into the hallway when I needed to eat. Raisins would work well because of the sugar value, I'd just need to eat a handful & then test my sugar level every hour. My issues with this are:

--Even if I sat on an end row, wouldn't my leaving & returning disturb others?

--Will I be able to reach the...level of kavana I need to if I'm worrying about the next time I have to check my sugar?

--I don't want someone to see me eating something & think I'm being disrespectful by eating in a Shul on YK, of all days!

--Even if someone saw me & didn't think that, I'd still be embarrassed (I didn't say I was being logical about this )

So, what would you do?

I'd go to shul anyway. If medically and therefore halachically you must eat, then go and take along whatever food will keep your glucose levels intact. If you're worried about others being appalled at your eating, perhaps explain it to those sitting around you beforehand. You can also explain that you'll need to leave occasionally and ask them if it's ok. Get a seat nearest the exit.

To me Yom Kippur is really really important, and I wouldn't forfeit going to shul because I'm afraid of what others might think.

Unless halachically one shouldn't eat in shul on Y'K for whatever reason, I say go.

I'm sure there are eating areas somewhere - the kids do it all the time. You find a quiet corner and you eat there.
Shul is important, and just because you have to eat doesn't mean Y"K's over.
You do the best you could with the circumstances you're given. You have nothing to be ashamed of.

Go to shul, No one will notice you leave, people come and go all day long.

As far as leels of kavanah, everyone has their own problems with kavanah, some more, some ess, yours just happens to involve your requirement of eating. You are in the same arena, and everybody is in a slightly different place anyway.

It is for sure worth going to shul. If possible explain to the person sitting next to you that you'll be going in and out a lot so he'll know the story and not spend his davening wondering what's wrong with you that you can't sit still.
If you don't go to shul getting into the Yom Kippur mood is very hard.
In general (not just on Y"K) when I have a hard time concentrating on my tefillos, I love listening to other people davening. I find it to be inspirational at times. So even if you don't feel you can get into your davening. Just being part of a tzibbur can be a good feeling.

Yom Kippur isn't only about fasting even thought that's a major part of the day. If you aren't allowed to fast that doesn't absolve you from viduy, tefilah, kaporah, selicha etc. And all those people who say they'd daven better if they weren't thinking about food; well you have the up on them. So go to shul and daven your heart out.

I say go. In fact, if you're not fasting, I think the fact that you have a chance to pray is another way of 'celebrating' YK. It's a day that's not only about fasting. Tefillah is very important on YK. If you are worried about having to check your levels, why don't you ask a shayla if it's OK to set a timer to ring every hour (if that's when you need to check it), and set it to buzz. This way you know you can be immersed until you need to check it without having to look at your watch every few minutes.

Thank you so much for all of your responses. If the people at my Shul are half as understanding, I will do well.
I also like the idea of the timer...have to ask the Rav about that...

My wife is hypoglycemic, and is halachically prohibited from fasting on either Tishang b'Ab or Kippur. What our haham instructed her to do on those days is to stay in bed until hatsot, and then eat only what she needs to keep her blood sugar at a healthy level. She does not go to the esnoga except for kal nidre ereb Kippur and, if she's feelign well, ne'ila on Kippur.

Don't worry about it. Many people have to go out for a second to take a break. You may want to plan beforehand, visit your seat and see how you will keep it as subtle as possible. And if people notice, you can just explain why- "I'm forbidden to fast."

(take along something with a smell, maybe, to offer people.)

You mean like cloves stuck in an orange? I've seen people with those in a baggie at Shul before. They said the smell helps keep them alert.

Where are you staying? Maybe you'd prefer to go home and eat. Do you make kiddush first ?

thats true. you do need to make kiddush. (does anyone here actualy know the kiddush for yom kippur or am I going to have to reconstitute it?) (I'll set to work on that right now actualy.)

See Orach Chaim 618:10.

One also has to say ya'ale veyabo during birchat hamazon if one eats bread.

Depends whom one asks.