Smelly signs of poorly-managed diabetes
People diagnosed with diabetes need to ensure that they are able to manage the disease by following proper doctor prescribed medication, diet and exercise. This will reduce the impact of the disease on your health.
On the other hand, poorly managed diabetes can worsen your blood sugar levels and it can even rise to dangerous, deadly levels. One such sign of high blood sugar is peculiar body odours, especially in your breath.
It is crucial to be aware of these signs and seek immediate medical treatment. Neglected diabetes can raise your risk of stroke, amputations and heart attack.
How can diabetes produce body odours?
Diabetes ketoacidosis is one of the deadly side effects of diabetes. This diabetes complication develops when the body doesn't have enough insulin to allow blood sugar into your cells for use as energy. Then the liver breaks down fat for fuel, which produces acids called ketones. When too many ketones are produced too fast, they can build up to dangerous levels in your blood and urine. This reaction occurs inside the liver, which causes the blood to become acidic.
This condition can produce three main types of breath odours. This is a sign of toxicity. Ketones leave the body through our breath and sweat, which leads to these odours.
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Identifying diabetes-related odour
These smells related to excessive ketones in the body may include:
-A fruity odour to the breath
-Breath that smells like faeces. This could be due to prolonged vomiting or bowel obstruction
-Breath with ammonia-like odour, which usually occurs in people who have chronic kidney failure
Apart from testing blood sugar levels, it is very much important to take note of these signs which though appear subtle but have immense potential in indicating the severity of a disease. These signs can help you spot the disease and take immediate medical help even at an early stage.
How frequent is this condition?
People with type 1 diabetes can develop ketoacidosis due to infection, injury, serious illness, stress of surgery or missing doses of insulin shots.
Diabetes ketoacidosis is less frequent and severe in people with type 2 diabetes. However, it can be triggered by uncontrolled blood sugar for a long period of time.
Ketoacidosis can also occur in people who do not have diabetes. This can occur in cases of starvation, where a lack of glucose forces the body into the process of ketogenesis for energy. Research has found that this condition may also rarely develop due to a diet low in carbohydrates.
If your blood sugar is 240 mg/dL or above, use an over-the-counter ketone test kit to check your urine or a meter to test your blood for ketones. This should be done every 4 to 6 hours. You should also test for ketones if you experience any symptoms of diabetes ketoacidosis.
Other signs of ketoacidosis
Apart from breath odour, other signs of this condition include:
-Deeper breaths
-Fatigue
-Excessive urination
-Weight loss
-Nausea
-Vomiting
-Abdominal pain
How to prevent diabetes ketoacidosis
People with diabetes are advised to check their blood sugar often to know their levels and take necessary steps to prevent your condition from worsening. It is important to stick to the medications prescribed by your doctor and if you feel sick, consult your doctor again to adjust your insulin. Maintain a healthy, active and balanced lifestyle to keep your blood sugar levels in the healthy target range.
Diet tips for people with diabetes
Foods in your daily diet should be low in calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, and salt. Eat more fiber-rich foods like whole grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta. Replaces soda and packaged juices with plain water. You can add some flavour using freshly cut oranges, lemon, cucumber or strawberries. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Consult your doctor or nutritionist for a diabetes-friendly meal plan.
Fitness tips for people with diabetes
Try to get some kind of activity everyday. If you are not used to exercising, just start with a 10 minute walk, 3 times a day. You can even walk around the house for a dedicated time period if it is difficult to find a way to go out for a walk.
Along with basic walking, work on your muscle strength. You can do this from simpler exercises like yoga, or more intense like doing push-ups.
Set a step goal and try to achieve it everyday. Ensure a healthy daily diet for best results.
Other complications of diabetes
Less controlled blood sugar and diabetes over a long period of time can lead to several complications. It can increase the risk of many heart problems such as heart attack and stroke. It can also lead to damage of nerves, kidney, eyes, feet and skin. Type 2 diabetes may also increase the risk of dementia as well as depression.