DH has sweet smelling breath, and bedroom smells

[QuickNC789]

I noticed last night when I got home from work that DH’s breath smells very sweet. I also noticed it again this morning when he kissed me before going to work.

This morning our bedroom smells exactly like when you’ve been drinking the night before and wake up and you can smell the alcohol in the room.

I’ve read before that a pear drops smell could be a sign of diabetes. BUT he doesn’t have any other symptoms. In fact, over the last six months he’s been putting weight on as he’s had a really stressful time at work, gave up exercising and has been eating a load of chocolate and biscuits etc.

So I would definitely say he hasn’t got low blood sugar!

Can anyone think of what it might be instead please?

You can buy glucose monitors for less from any pharmacy. OP just needs to go out first thing tomorrow morning.

If you google 'diabetic ketone breath' there's some good advice;

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319683#diabetes-and-acetone-like-breath

TBH you have done your best for this evening. He is a grown man with full MC so all you can do is observe him until the morning when hopefully you can get a test kit from a chemist.
If his conscious label changes or he starts behaving out of character call an ambulance.

I can’t see that his GP is going to discuss anything with you ,unless you already have it authorised in his notes . You’ve done all you can at this point , trying to adjust his diet and encouraging him to exercise is about all you can do going forward if he doesn’t want to check it out .

Keep an eye on changes with his breathing...people ill with diabetes can have a distinct type of breathing pattern.

I think mumsnetters have whipped you up into a frenzy here.. Getting this into perspective it's not an emergency.
You say he works for the NHS csn he ask a colleague to test him?

Hi OP, this is tricky and I sympathise. My dh has Type 2. One of the first symptoms we noticed was a thrush infection.

The sweet-smelling breath is, as lots of PP have said, suggestive of DKA which can be very dangerous. So you are going to have to be persistent I'm afraid. I second the idea a PP came up with of seeking medical advice and telling them he is being resistant. In the meantime, try and get him to drink lots of water because it will help to flush ketones and sugars out of his system if that is the problem. And yes, call an ambulance straight away if he starts to deteriorate.

Hyacinth, I'm afraid DKA is an emergency. It might not be that, but if it is he will need treatment.

I’ve phoned 111 on behalf of my DH a couple of times when he has been too stubborn to do it himself.

So what if you ruined his night? You are trying to help him.

My dh has had DKA. The breathing was like grunting. It was very scary - he was cold and unresponsive and I had to put him in the recovery position while we waited for the ambulance. And he has Type 2, not Type 1 - DKA in Type 2s is unusual but not unheard of. Also, it is not that unusual to develop Type 1 well into adulthood. It can come on slowly (google LADA) and sometimes doesn't cause really obvious symptoms initially.

I don't see why OP has to be persistent. He's a grown ass man. Let him go downhill if that's what he wants. I'd have zero sympathy with selfish behaviour like his.

If I’d done that with my dad he would be dead. (No exaggeration).

Maybe start asking him where the life insurance policy documents are? If a PP is right and this is a potentially life threatening then you'll need the info. Might be enough to shock him into action.

@hyacinth88 IF he has DKA it is 100% an emergency. I ended up in HDU with it (at the time of diagnosis) - I walked in, I had no inkling how I'll I was. Of course he may not be in DKA, but there's enough here to be realistically concerned.

OP sorry you are in such a difficult position. I'd suggest buying a blood glucose test kit online, Amazon should deliver tomorrow. Just tell him he needs to do it, he can then prove you wrong and get on with his day. Once you have it insist he does it and tell him it is the easiest way to get you out of his hair about it.

With 111 if the patient is so ill they can’t speak then they can do an assessment with the caller. But if he refuses to speak to them despite being well enough to talk then there’s not much they can do. However, if the patient is vulnerable/elderly and are refusing to seek help then a clinician will have to call back to assess the situation.

I’m not sure what to advise. You will have to keep trying to persuade him to seek medical help. keep an eye if he becomes unconscious which then obviously call 999

He's an adult, and it's for him to sort out his health, not OP.

But I would just let him know that you're really disappointed with his response.

If he’s not peeing and not thirsty and not losing weight - could be an indication this isn’t diabetes. But without a test it’s impossible to say.

I didnt have them symptoms but i was diagnosed with type 2.

@QuickNC789 you have tried your best.All you can do is ring the ambulance if the need arises.
Cause i went downhill fast.Its really that quick.

I really hopes he gets his head out of his arse and listens to you

@SunshineCake

Maybe start asking him where the life insurance policy documents are? If a PP is right and this is a potentially life threatening then you'll need the info. Might be enough to shock him into action.

Ha. Yes.

That’s our family code for ‘you’re being a dick about safety‘

I think ops getting a rough time here, you can’t force another adult to seek help.

He’ll go when he’s ready.

A finger prick test is good but needs to be done under the correct circumstances, take his fasting blood sugar first thing, then try again an hour after each meal. You can look up expected values.

It also might be worth contactibg the doctor who can do a better blood test which measures how his blood sugar has been averaging over the last month. This is a better indication.

I'm sorry your OH isn't listening to you.

If you have children, please don't let them (or anyone else) get in the car with him driving. If it is DKA he could pass out.

Maybe he will have a change of heart in the morning about getting tested. Agree with other posters that it is worth ordering a cheap blood glucose monitor on Amazon to have ready.

You are getting lots of conflicting advice on here.

I would Do a finger prick test ASAP.it doesn’t matter if it’s fasting or non fasting.

If he has DKA his blood sugars will be super high.

You can worry about everything else later.

Right now you need to know if he has DKA.

Tell him that if it IS Diabetes, the medication will make him feel a lot better and less tired. It did me. And yes, it is hereditary. My paternal GM had it, and so do me, my brother, and my niece.

PS. If you don't want to wait, Lloyds will sell you a test kit. They're very easy to use. Or try Boots.

In this situation, I would tell him you are going to ring 111 for advice as you are concerned that he might become really unwell if he doesn't see someone.
All his symptoms point to a potential diabetes diagnosis, but with treatment and lifestyle changes he could feel a lot better than he does now and without needing to take a lot of time off work. If he leaves it and it escalates he will be off work a hell of a lot longer.
Denial is a difficult thing to deal with OP, good luck !