What makes insulin smell

If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. People usually associate strong-smelling breath with poor dental hygiene or a recent meal.

But it may reveal much more than that. This may stem from diabetes , alcohol use, or dietary habits. 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 needs immediate medical attention. This article will look at DKA, what to do if symptoms occur, and other causes of breath that smells like acetone.

When a person has diabetes, their body either does not make enough insulin or it cannot use insulin effectively. Usually, insulin breaks down glucose in the blood so that it can enter the cells and provide energy. If the body cannot get its energy from glucose, it starts burning fat for fuel instead.

The process of breaking down fat for energy releases byproducts called ketones. Acetone is a type of ketone, and it is the same fruity-smelling substance used in nail polish remover. If the breath of a person with diabetes smells of acetone, this suggests that there are high levels of ketones in their blood.

As the ketones build up, they increase the acidity of the blood. This can be toxic. When the body breaks down fatty acids for energy, the process is called ketosis. As this happens, the liver releases ketones, including acetone, as a byproduct. When the body is breaking down fat, the breath may smell sweeter, because the body is expelling acetone. It is not usually harmful for the body to burn fat, as long as the levels of ketones in the blood do not become too high. However, if there is too much glucose in the blood and too little in the cells — as can happen with diabetes — ketone levels can rise too high.

As a result, if glucose levels rise too high, the person is at risk of DKA. It can cause the blood to become acidic and affect how the organs function. DKA usually occurs gradually, but if a person has been vomiting, it can develop quickly. Other symptoms of DKA include:. As symptoms progress, the person may lose consciousness and experience a coma.

Without medical intervention, organ damage can occur. The effects can be life-threatening. Here, learn more about ketones, diabetes, and ketone testing. A person may be at risk of DKA if:. Other factors that can increase the chances of developing DKA:. Previous studies have provided evidence that patients with diabetes mellitus DM or its complications are at increased risk of olfactory dysfunction. We therefore investigated whether smell dysfunction was associated with DM-related biomarkers, including fasting blood glucose, glycohemoglobin, serum insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin sensitivity HOMA-IR , in older US adults.

Methods: Data from 9, older adults who had participated in the to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were available for this study. Years later, the student was diagnosed with diabetes and placed on an insulin pump. She then realized that her professor must have had an insulin pump! That smell! According to the article by Larissa Zimberoff from www. Smells are very nostalgic and personalized.

A smell can trigger an emotion, a memory, or an experience. According to the National Institute of Health NIH , insulin has a chemical compound to stabilize, acts as an antiseptic, and disinfectant the liquid. This chemical compound is called phenol. Phenol is both a manufactured chemical and is also found in nature. Phenol is a colorless-to-white and solid when pure.