What does a diabetic emergency smell like?

Anyone living with diabetes whose breath suddenly has a fruity, acetone-like smell should check their blood sugar and ketone levels, as it could be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis. Without treatment, DKA can quickly become a health emergency.

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What smell do diabetics give off?

Some people with diabetes compare the smell of insulin to the scent of Band-Aids, printer ink, Lysol, or new plastic shower curtain liners (4). Apparently, phenols are responsible for the aroma associated with insulin (5).

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What does diabetic ketoacidosis smell like?

a smell of ketones on your breath, which can smell like pear drops or nail varnish remover. confusion. drowsiness or loss of consciousness (coma)

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Does diabetic ketoacidosis have a bad smell?

A fruity odor to the breath is a sign of ketoacidosis, which may occur in diabetes. It is a potentially life-threatening condition. Breath that smells like feces can occur with prolonged vomiting, especially when there is a bowel obstruction.

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What are 3 signs of a diabetic emergency?

What are the signs and symptoms of a diabetic emergency?
  • hunger.
  • clammy skin.
  • profuse sweating.
  • drowsiness or confusion.
  • weakness or feeling faint.
  • sudden loss of responsiveness.

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First Aid and Sudden Illness: Diabetic Emergency

36 related questions found

What happens before diabetic shock?

People often experience headaches, dizziness, sweating, shaking, and a feeling of anxiety. However, when a person experiences diabetic shock or severe hypoglycemia, they may lose consciousness, have trouble speaking, and experience double vision.

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What are the symptoms of a diabetic crash?

With this drastic drop in energy, the body can experience undesired symptoms such as:
  • hunger.
  • irritability.
  • fatigue.
  • discomfort.
  • anxiety.
  • headaches.
  • difficulty concentrating.
  • excess sweat.

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Can you smell a diabetic emergency?

Whether a person has type 1 or type 2 diabetes, an acetone-like scent in the breath can indicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially life threatening complication that requires immediate medical attention.

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Can diabetes cause weird smells?

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.

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What are the first signs that a person is experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis?

You have many symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis. These include excessive thirst, frequent urination, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, weakness or fatigue, shortness of breath, fruity-scented breath, and confusion.

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What does untreated diabetes smell like?

Some people with diabetes compare the smell of insulin to the scent of Band-Aids, printer ink, Lysol, or new plastic shower curtain liners (4).

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What are the stages of ketoacidosis?

An analysis of 1000 cases of diabetic ketoacidosis has suggested to the authors their classification into four evolutive stages: incipient ketoacidosis (normal pH, decrease of total CO2, between 20--26 mMol/l and of excess bases between -2 and -5 mMol/l), moderate ketoacidosis (pH 7.31-7.35, total CO2, between 15--19.9 ...

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What does diabetic pee look like?

If you have diabetes insipidus, you'll continue to pee large amounts of watery (dilute), light-colored urine when normally you'd only pee a small amount of concentrated, dark yellow urine.

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Do diabetics sleep a lot?

People who have diabetes often have poor sleep habits, including difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Some people with diabetes get too much sleep, while others have problems getting enough sleep.

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What does insulin smell like?

The NIH (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/phenol#section=Top) tells us exactly what to expect when we drop a vial on the oor: “a sweet tarry odor that resembles a hospital smell.” And there's a reason it's familiar.

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Does diabetes make you smell like ammonia?

A person living with a health condition such as diabetes or kidney disease may also have sweat that smells like ammonia. A person can try antiperspirants to reduce the amount they sweat, and deodorants to cover up any odors. A doctor can treat any underlying health conditions to help reduce the ammonia smell in sweat.

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What color is urine in diabetes?

One of the most common changes in urine color associated with diabetes is a darker yellow color. This is because high blood sugar levels can cause your kidneys to work harder to filter out excess glucose, leading to more concentrated urine. In some cases, urine may even appear orange or brown.

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What are the signs of diabetes in a woman?

Typical symptoms include:
  • feeling very thirsty.
  • passing urine more often than usual, particularly at night.
  • feeling very tired.
  • weight loss and loss of muscle bulk.
  • slow to heal cuts or ulcers.
  • frequent vaginal or penile thrush.
  • blurred vision.

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What might make you suspect a diabetic emergency?

rapid pulse and breathing. fruity, sweet breath. excessive thirst. drowsiness, leading them to become unresponsive if not treated (also known as a diabetic coma)

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What does alcoholic ketoacidosis smell like?

The alcoholic ketoacidosis smell is like acetone or nail polish remover, noticeable when someone exhales ketone molecules. The diabetic form of ketoacidosis may have a sweet and fruity smell rather than one like acetone.

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What does a diabetic headache feel like?

Headaches from low blood sugar may feel dull or throbbing. Headaches from high blood sugar are typically also dull and throbbing, but one type may feel more severe, like stabbing, piercing, or shock-like pain.

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Why do diabetics wake up in the middle of the night?

When blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys overcompensate by causing you to urinate more often. During the night, these frequent trips to the bathroom lead to disrupted sleep. High blood sugar may also cause headaches, increased thirst, and tiredness that can interfere with falling asleep.

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What does diabetes fatigue feel like?

Many people with diabetes will describe themselves as feeling tired, lethargic or fatigued at times. It could be a result of stress, hard work or a lack of a decent night's sleep but it could also be related to having too high or too low blood glucose levels.

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When should a diabetic go to ER?

Go to the ER or call 911 right away if you have symptoms of ketoacidosis like: nausea and vomiting. abdominal pain. deep, rapid breathing.

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