Understanding Diabetic Breathing to Prevent Disease

The breath of people with diabetes is often described as having a fruity or organic-like odor. Photo: AI - Ngoc Thuy

Characteristic breath of people with diabetes

For many people with diabetes, an unexpected but recognizable symptom is a distinctive breath odor, commonly known as “diabetic breath,” says Dr. Jaison Paul Sharma, MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), Sharma Hospital, Garhdiwala (India).

In this case, the fruity, sweet or even slightly sour smell coming from the patient's mouth and breath may seem strange, but in fact this is the body's way of signaling extremely high blood sugar or hyperglycemia.

Dr Jaison Paul Sharma explains that diabetic breath, often described as fruity or organic-like, is the body's way of reacting to excess glucose in the blood. Our bodies produce insulin and it helps process glucose and convert it into energy.

However, Dr Jaison Paul Sharma adds that when the body is severely insulin deficient, the body cannot use glucose for energy. This is when the body begins to break down fat for fuel, resulting in the production of ketones (an organic compound) as a byproduct. These ketones can accumulate in the blood and are exhaled through the breath, creating a distinctive odor.

How is dry mouth related to diabetes?

“People with diabetes may produce less saliva and have dry mouth. This can reduce the ability to protect oral health and can cause bad breath,” says Dr. Ashok Kumar Jhingan, Senior Director, Diabetes, Thyroid, Obesity and Endocrinology Center, BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi, India.

This can increase the amount of glucose in their saliva, which leads to increased bacteria in the mouth, adds Ashok Kumar Jhingan. Failure to remove dental plaque can lead to tooth decay. These can also cause bad breath.

Bad breath can also be a sign of diabetes, says Ashok Kumar Jhingan. If a person’s body produces ketones too quickly, they can build up to dangerous levels. Dr. Jhingan says a symptom of DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) is having high levels of ketones in a person’s breath that smells like overripe fruit. This can cause bad breath.

“A fruity breath odor is a sign of high ketone levels in people with diabetes. The odor may resemble rotten apples or pears. Others may describe the odor as acetone or nail polish remover,” says Dr. Jhingan.

Additionally, some people with diabetes are at higher risk of gum disease. This is primarily a problem with type 1 diabetes but can also occur with type 2 diabetes.

How to Control Symptoms of Diabetic Breath

To avoid life-threatening emergencies, Dr. Sharma advises diabetics to always drink plenty of water and avoid dehydration. They should follow the insulin regimen prescribed by their doctor. And they should check for any infections and adjust them quickly, because ketosis (a natural metabolic state where instead of carbs (sugar) to produce energy to nourish the body) can occur if there is any infection in the body,” Dr. Sharma concludes.

Source: https://laodong.vn/suc-khoe/hieu-ve-hoi-tho-cua-nguoi-mac-tieu-duong-de-phong-benh-1367126.ldo