

This shift causes a major spike in ketones, the source of acetone breath. On a ketogenic, or keto, diet (high fat, moderate protein, very low carb) or on some fasting plans, your body uses fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. Keto diet and fasting: Changes to your diet can create acetone-scented breath. While diabetes is the main reason people get acetone breath, it can also happen because of these other things:

It can also happen if you miss or don’t take your insulin.īlood and urine tests that check your blood sugar and ketone levels can help you know if you have DKA. Losing weight quickly (newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes).They’re also among the signs that you could have diabetes. There are other symptoms of DKA besides fruity-scented breath, and they happen quickly at times, within 24 hours. It’s also one of the first symptoms that doctors look for when they check for DKA. Fruity-smelling breath is a sign of high levels of ketones in someone who already has diabetes. The fat-burning process creates a buildup of acids in your blood called ketones, which leads to DKA if untreated. When your body can’t get energy from glucose, it burns fat in its place. Glucose then lingers in your blood and can’t get into your cells. With diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough, or any, insulin or doesn’t use it well. Normally, glucose gets into your cells thanks to a hormone from the pancreas called insulin. Diabetes and Acetoneĭiabetes happens when your blood glucose ( blood sugar), a key energy source from food, is too high. And it can happen for a few reasons not related to diabetes, including keto diets, fasting, and heavy drinking. It’s a problem mainly of type 1 diabetes but also can happen with type 2 if you get a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). If your breath smells like acetone - the same fruity scent as nail polish remover - it may be a sign of high levels of ketones (acids your liver makes) in your blood. But sometimes, bad breath is more complex and the symptom of a serious health condition. Foods like onions or garlic or poor dental habits cause a strong odor in your mouth, which often gets better with simple lifestyle changes. Everyone gets bad breath from time to time.
