Diabetes affects more than 34.2 million people, or 10.5% of the U.S. population, although the actual figure is most likely to be higher. Huge numbers of people in the US are living with diabetes without even knowing it, because the symptoms can be very subtle.
Nearly 90 percent of all diabetes cases are related to type 2 diabetes.
The condition is caused by the body’s inability to create enough insulin or by the body’s failure to respond to insulin.
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Insulin helps converting blood sugar into usable energy.
But it’s extremely difficult to know if you are at risk from the condition.
You may unknowingly have elevated blood glucose if you have bad breath, according to ITV This Morning Dr Sara.
Smelly breath is an “obscure” symptom of diabetes, but must never be overlooked, she warned.
Uncontrolled diabetes can result in ketone development.
“You can develop ketones with diabetes if it’s not well controlled,” Dr Sara told Express.co.uk.
“Ketones cause a smelly breath, so that is a slightly more obscure symptom, but certainly it’s there.”
Bad breath could also be due to high levels of sugar in saliva.
It provides an ideal feeding ground for bacteria in the mouth, resulting in subsequent plaque buildup.
An untreated plaque has the potential to cause gum disease, which is a common cause of bad breath.
Just because we have bad breath doesn’t make us diabetic.
It may also be due to the consumption of spicy foods or high-odour beverages.
Tonsillitis, acid reflux or smoking could all contribute to smelly breath.
More common diabetes symptoms include having an unquenchable thirst, passing more urine than normal, or feeling unusually tired.
Diagnosing the condition early is crucial, because it can lead to some deadly complications, including heart disease and strokes.
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You could lower your chances of developing diabetes by eating a healthy, balanced diet, and by doing regular exercise.
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