Typical breath of people with diabetes
Dr. Jaison Paul Sharma - MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), Sharma Hospital, Garhdiwala (India) - said, for many people with diabetes, an unexpected but easily recognizable symptom is bad breath. characteristic, often called “diabetic breath”.
In particular, a fruity, sweet or even slightly sour smell emanates from the patient's mouth and breath that may seem strange, but in fact this is the body's way of signaling extremely high blood sugar levels or hyperglycemia.
Dr. Jaison Paul Sharma explains that diabetic breath is often described as having a fruity or organic odor, which is the body's way of responding to excess glucose in the blood. Our body produces insulin and it helps process glucose and convert it into energy.
However, Dr. Jaison Paul Sharma added that, when the body is severely lacking insulin, the body cannot use glucose for energy. This is when the body begins to break down fat for fuel, leading to the production of ketones (an organic compound) as a byproduct. These ketones can accumulate in the blood and be exhaled through the breath, creating a characteristic odor.
How is dry mouth related to diabetes?
Dr. Ashok Kumar Jhingan - Senior Director of Center for Diabetes, Thyroid, Obesity and Endocrinology, BLK-Max Super Specialty Hospital, Delhi, India - said: “People with diabetes have You may produce less saliva and have a dry mouth. This can reduce your ability to protect your oral health and can cause bad breath.”
This could increase the amount of glucose in their saliva, added Mr. Ashok Kumar Jhingan. leads to increased bacteria in the mouth. Failure to remove dental plaque can lead to tooth decay. These can also cause bad breath.
Mr. Ashok Kumar Jhingan said that bad breath can also be a sign of a person with diabetes. If a person's body produces ketones too quickly, they can build up to dangerous levels. One symptom of DKA (ketoacidosis - an acute complication of diabetes) is having high levels of ketones in a person's breath that resembles the smell of overripe fruit, Dr. Jhingan said. This can cause bad breath.
“Fruity breath is a sign of high ketone levels in people who already have diabetes. The smell may resemble rotten apples or pears. Others may describe the smell as similar to the smell of acetone or nail polish remover,” says Dr. Jhingan.
Additionally, some people with diabetes are at higher risk for gum disease. This is mainly a problem with type 1 diabetes but can also occur with type 2 diabetes.
How to control symptoms from diabetic breath
To avoid emergency and life-threatening conditions, Dr. Sharma advises diabetics to always take care to drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration. You should strictly follow the insulin guidelines as prescribed by your doctor. And they should check for any infections and correct them quickly, because ketosis (a natural metabolic state in which instead of letting carbs (sugar) produce energy to nourish the body) can can happen if there is any infection in the body,” concluded Dr. Sharma.
