Does diabetes cause bad breath?

Yes, it does. In my case, severe bad breath was actually a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a dangerous complication. Please do not ignore this symptom and consult your doctor to check your ketone levels.

I understand how uncomfortable this is. High sugar dry mouth often causes bad breath. Try chewing on cardamom or cloves throughout the day and rinsing your mouth with warm salt water after meals.

I noticed my breath got very dry and smelly when my sugar levels were crossing 250 last year. Once I brought my sugar down to normal levels with my regular medicine, the bad breath went away on its own.

Don't worry too much, beta. When I was diagnosed 20 years ago, I had the same issue. Once your daily routine is set and your sugar levels stabilize, this problem disappears completely.

I am experiencing this lately and it is making me very self-conscious. Is this bad breath a permanent thing with diabetes, or does it stop once we start taking sugar medicines?

My breath has started smelling a bit like nail polish remover lately and I am really panicking. Has anyone else with diabetes experienced this specific smell? Please let me know what you did.

Yes, it is a very common issue caused by high glucose levels in saliva. Mouthwash is only a temporary fix. You need to fix your underlying sugar levels through diet and proper medication.

Yes, it does. High blood glucose levels promote bacterial growth in the mouth. I recommend adding more crunchy raw vegetables like cucumbers to your diet, which naturally clean your teeth and freshen breath.

Oh yes, high sugar makes your mouth a party ground for bacteria! Since we foodies have to cut down on sweets, at least we can drink lots of water and chew mint leaves to keep things fresh.

Yes, it can happen. Because of my PCOS insulin resistance, I sometimes get a dry mouth which leads to bad breath. I don't know the exact medical cause, but keeping hydrated helps a lot.

I totally get how embarrassing this can be when talking to others. High sugar dry mouth is the main reason behind it, but keeping sugar under control and brushing twice a day really helps.