Type 2 diabetes: Diabetic ketoacidosis creates a fruity-smelling breath

Remember, the right approach and treatment plan can make a significant difference in your overall health and well-being. Diabetes patients should regularly check their blood sugar levels – but it’s even more important if they develop signs of diabetic ketoacidosis, it warned. People with liver disease have higher levels of certain chemical compounds, including acetone. The link between liver disease and fruity, musty breath is so strong that healthcare providers use breath smell as an indication of liver disease. Your breath smell can indicate a lot more than when you last brushed your teeth.

Urgent advice: Call your diabetes care team now or get help from NHS 111 if:

Cue nausea, stomach pain, and breath that smells like nail polish remover. If you’re not brushing and flossing daily, you’re going to be at a higher risk for bad breath. It’s also recommended to see your dentist twice a year for professional cleanings and to undergo oral exams. If you’re living with diabetes, you may need to take some extra precautions and schedule more professional cleanings.

• Talk to your doctor before starting a new diet regimen to make sure that it is safe.
• If you notice any unusual or persistent odours, don’t hesitate to consult a healthcare professional.
• Managing diabetes and keeping symptoms like fruity breath under control requires understanding, support, and sometimes, professional guidance.
• Chew sugar-free gum or carry mints to help stimulate saliva, avoid mouthwash with alcohol, and make sure that you’re properly managing your diabetes.
• It’s extremely important to properly manage blood sugar levels as high blood sugar levels could create serious health complications.
• Managing blood sugar levels can help prevent complications that lead to bad breath.

Fruity Breath: Diabetes’ Unexpected Symptom Explained

• Have you ever caught a whiff of a sweet, almost fruity aroma when someone exhales?
• “DKA is caused by a lack of insulin in the body, which causes the body to break down fat for energy.
• The body starts looking for alternative energy sources when glucose becomes scarce.
• If you think you have kidney disease or gum disease, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.
• Staying hydrated throughout the day is another way to help keep bad breath at bay.
• During fasting periods, especially prolonged ones, glycogen stores become depleted.

The pancreas responds to this by releasing insulin, however, this insulin can’t work properly, and blood sugar levels keep rising and more insulin is released. This all plays havoc on one’s body with various signs that blood sugar levels are too high. Smelling this odour on your breath could be one of the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

What can cause bad breath with diabetes?

If you have diabetes, this scent can be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a condition that can be fatal if not treated. It’s not just an odd smell; it can be a signal from the body that something is amiss. The scent resembles that of nail polish remover, which is a common household product containing acetone. This particular odor can emerge under various circumstances, especially when someone is unwell. Diabetes happens when your blood glucose (blood sugar), a key energy source from food, is too high.

What is alcoholic ketoacidosis?

Ketosis is a state where the body burns fat for fuel instead of glucose. This metabolic shift leads to elevated levels of ketones in the blood and urine. When someone is in ketosis, their breath may take on a fruity or sweet smell due to the presence of acetone. Statistics from Diabetes UK showed there could be 850,000 people living with diabetes who are undiagnosed. Key factors affecting health being household income, education, housing, access to healthy food, as well as access to healthcare.

Researchers are, however, keen to remind people that bad breath among diabetes patients is manageable by brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Flossing daily, brushing or scraping your tongue, drinking water, and keeping your mouth moist, would also help to reduce symptoms. It’s also important to make sure your dentist is aware of any diabetes diagnosis.

Heart disease and stroke, which can be complications of diabetes, are also linked to periodontal disease. Periodontal diseases, also called gum diseases, include gingivitis and periodontitis. In these inflammatory diseases, bacteria attack the tissues and bone that support your teeth. Inflammation can affect metabolism and increase your blood sugar, which worsens diabetes. If a person’s body produces ketones too fast, they can build up to dangerous levels. One symptom of DKA is having high levels of ketones in a person’s breath.

In order to experience alcoholic ketoacidosis, a person often has to drink large quantities of alcohol, while also being malnourished. Understanding these phases helps individuals recognize how their bodies react during fasting periods and what signs might indicate they need food intake. While it might be tempting to cover them up with deodorants or perfumes, there are certain scents that deserve closer attention. Here are ten body odours that men should never ignore, as they may signal a deeper health problem. Body odour is a natural part of life, but certain smells can go beyond the usual sweat or musk. Though many are harmless, some unusual or intense odours could signal underlying health issues.

If the breath of a person with diabetes smells of acetone, this suggests that there are high levels of ketones in their blood. If you have diabetes and smell acetone on your breath, make sure to follow your doctor’s treatment plan. Most of the time, this means taking insulin, a medicine to control your blood sugar and stop ketosis from happening. Staying hydrated throughout the day is another way to help keep bad breath at bay. Drinking water helps to rid your mouth of harmful bacteria and improves dry mouth.

About 6-8% of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes will experience DKA at some point because of illness or poor diabetes management. The ADA recommends testing for ketones every 4–6 hours when a person is ill, such as with a cold or the flu. Knowing about DKA and being able to recognize its symptoms can save a person’s life. Causes of DKA can include being unwell, having an injury or surgery, having your period, or not taking enough insulin. The doctors will talk to you about what caused DKA and give you advice on how to reduce the risk of it happening again. Once your ketones are at a safe level and you can eat and drink normally dka breath smell you’ll be able to go home.