Is bad breath a sign of diabetes?
pugnose asked:
I am frequently urinating, hungry,thirsty and tired. But Im not obese, Im a fit 32 years old guy… and my friend told me i have bad breath–which may be caused by diabetes..could I really have that sickness? Im just so afraid to know coz my mom died of having diabetic complications…is having bad breath really a sign of diabetes?
smell of varnish from breath is one sign
If it’s diabetes related your breath will either smell fruity or like acetone, which is the main ingredient in nail polish remover. I remember smelling acetone on my daughter before she was diagnosed, though I didn’t realize the smell was coming from her. It was kind of a plasticy / chemical smell. I thought it might have been one of her toys that made her smell like that, so searched for it so I could get rid of it. But of course, I never found the toy, because it was coming from her.
“bad breath” CAN be sign of severely uncontrolled diabetes.
In this case the breath is usually described as “sweet”, “fruity”, or “nutty”.
In this case, the patient is suffering from KETOACIDOSIS, a very severe complication of excessively high blood sugars. This disease require IMMEDIATE medical treatment, usually hospitalization.
It is very easy to tell — go to the doctor. have him do an A1C test, and discuss the results with you.
Bad breath can ALSO be caused by digestive problems, diet, nose/ sinus problems, kidney problems, and dental problems. Bad breath can also be caused by cigarettes and coffee. Maybe you just need to brush more often!
With your Mom having died of diabetic complications, you need to get to the doctor and make SURE what you do or do not have. ONLY the doctor can determine if you have diabetes, done by taking blood tests.
Yes. Bad breath can signal a lot of health problems and diabetes is just one of them. Diabetes can contribute to bad breath. Seek medical attention asap to prevent complications and get proper treatment and diagnosis.