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The smell

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Jackiebrown

Jackiebrown

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi am Jackie and new here.
I was told I have diabetes 2
9 mths ago and am finding it hard.
I was put on metformin twice a day and they made me ill I felt sick, tried,
and always had a upset stomach so I went back to the doctor and he put me on other lot of metformin just one a day but am having the same reaction to them. So I’ve stopped taking them. Now I always have the diabetes smell on my body and it’s doing my head in.
Am now waiting to to see a doctor to see what else can me done.
Can anyone please help with advice

Thanks Jackie
 
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Hi Jackie, welcome to the forum. I’m so sorry that you have had such problems with metformin, it’s not uncommon so I hope your doctor can offer you an alternative. I’m not sure I understand what you mean by diabetes smell? Can you explain a little more?
 
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for replying

It’s a fruity smell. It doesn’t matter how many times I wash it’s still there and I’ve tryed different soaps so it’s not that. I seem it notice it more if I am feeling hot or sweating
 
This could possibly be ketones, if your blood glucose levels are high. Do you have a meter so you can test yourself? How long until you see the doctor?
 
Hi,
No I don’t am going to ask the doctor for one when I can get a appointment. My doctor’s are rubbish in trying to get a appointment but am going to call every day twice a day until I get one so hopefully next week. What should me blood glucose be ? I take it it’s not a good thing then if my ketones are to high
 
Hi Jackie

What other symptoms have you got? Weight loss, thirst, frequent need to urinate, ? Ketones are very dangerous in the blood and build up when there is a lack of insulin with high glucose and the body starts to break down fat and muscle for energy. One of the main signs is a fruity pear drop smell on the breath. I would urge you to call 111 and speak to a Doctor asap or go to A and E if you are feeling unwell. It is not uncommon for adults to be diagnosed Type 2 just because of their age but it can be slow onset Type 1.

Don't leave this situation, if it is Ketones you need insulin and fast, here's the details https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/complications/diabetic_ketoacidosis
 
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Thanks, @Flower, I was hoping an experienced Type 1 would see this!

Jackie, best to take Flower's advice.
 
Yes I need to urinate at lot at night is the worst I get up 3-4 times a night.
Yes to thirst.
When I was younger I used to drink a lot and always wet the bed it didn’t matter how may time my mum would wake me up to use the loo.
My husband said he cannot smell anything on my breath. I get tired quite a bit too. I have stopped taking my metformin as it makes me so ill that was 2 weeks ago. I did go for a blood test last week. I have the test results you can have a look if you like if you know how to read them
 
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Are you eating low carb foods?
I also had dreadful side effects from Metformin and a statin - it got so bad I gave them up, but then found that I did not need them as I was eating low carb and that has effectively negated my diabetes and I have returned to normal readings. I am lucky of course, but many type twos benefit greatly from reducing their carb intake.
It is unlikely that you will be given a meter, as it seems to be NHS policy to ignore the benefits of knowing one's blood glucose levels. Fortunately you can get meters with fairly cheap strips mail order and free of VAT - I am sure someone who uses one will be able to give you a link.
 
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Jackie the code free meter is quite cheap and replacement strips are around £7 - 8 for 50. Testing is key to working out what foods work best for you and what you might want to cut down or out. Keep a food diary and track your blood results, ideally test before you eat and again around 2 hours after, you are looking for a rise of no more than about 2 for it to be good food.
https://homehealth-uk.com/
 
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Drummer said:
Are you eating low carb foods?
I also had dreadful side effects from Metformin and a statin - it got so bad I gave them up, but then found that I did not need them as I was eating low carb and that has effectively negated my diabetes and I have returned to normal readings. I am lucky of course, but many type twos benefit greatly from reducing their carb intake.
It is unlikely that you will be given a meter, as it seems to be NHS policy to ignore the benefits of knowing one's blood glucose levels. Fortunately you can get meters with fairly cheap strips mail order and free of VAT - I am sure someone who uses one will be able to give you a link.
Click to expand...
Hi drummer
No am not low carbs but I will definitely give it a go thanks very much.
 
CathyB said:
Jackie the code free meter is quite cheap and replacement strips are around £7 - 8 for 50. Testing is key to working out what foods work best for you and what you might want to cut down or out. Keep a food diary and track your blood results, ideally test before you eat and again around 2 hours after, you are looking for a rise of no more than about 2 for it to be good food.
https://homehealth-uk.com/
Click to expand...
Get I will differently get one of them if the doctor doesn’t give me one.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice you’ve all been I great help thank you so much I will keep you updated
 
You are not low carb at all?
Had you no advice from your doctor or nurse about what the problem is for type two diabetics - that is too high an intake of carbohydrates?
 
Hi, Jackie, did you contact 111 ?
If you are still smelling the fruity smell your priority is to get checked as soon as possible that you do not have ketones.
 
Drummer said:
You are not low carb at all?
Had you no advice from your doctor or nurse about what the problem is for type two diabetics - that is too high an intake of carbohydrates?
Click to expand...

This makes me SO mad. I saw the dietitian after seeing my consultant today. She really tried to push the whole carb thing, told me I needed to be eating 50g of carbs a meal, and 2 portions of fruit a day. My diet sheet, which I considered to be a light of shining example on how to eat correctly as a type 2 (once I’d added Jenny’s breakfast protein) was soundly trounced as severely lacking in carbs, too much fat, etc.

I can barely cope with 50g a day. A normal diet when in AMU had me on insulin within hours of being there. Her advice would make me feel v v ill.
 
Hope you are OK @Jackiebrown!

Please don't be side tracked by the low carb issue - if you do turn out to be Type 2, then you will want/need to consider this, but it is far, far more important first that you get the possibility of high ketones, and therefore probable Type 1 needing insulin, ruled out.
 
Just posting to agree with Flower and Silentsquirrel - please do find out whether you are type 1 or type 2 before worrying about carbs, @Jackiebrown - if you are type 1 you need to be on insulin now, and if it's ketoacidosis causing the smell you need to be in hospital now - it's not something which will wait until you can get a doctor's appointment (and even if it did, the doctor might well not know what to do or how urgent it is, most GPs don't see many type 1s as it's quite rare, so they don't know much about it).
 
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