To worry about DH's weird breath smell?

[FortunesFave]

He's a fit and healthy 47....he doesn't drink alcohol or do drugs or smoke. He works out and eats an admirable diet.

However...over the past few months I've sometimes noticed a weird smell on his breath. I described it at first as a "Dairy/sweet" smell.

But it's got worse...last night he went to bed before me and when I walked into the bedroom, the whole room smelt of it. It's a sweet sort of smell...not absolutely rank but unpleasant and odd.

He is a health nut and says it must be a yeast imbalance...and has taken some brewers yeast and later some apple cider vinegar.

I just caught a faint whiff of it again though ...(it's evening here in Oz)

He sometimes has a bit of gut pain...and indigestion...that's all I can think of which isn't perfect about his bodily health. He's not a doctor-goer...should I worry?

Oh and this morning we got up at the same time. I went back into the bedroom 5 minutes later and the smell was overpowering.

Then 10 minutes later it had gone.

He’s probably in ketosis.

Is he possibly a risk for type 2 diabetic?

ketosis or diabetes.
can he get his blood sugar checked at a pharmacy if that's 'easier' for him than consulting a dr?

Tell us more about his ‘admirable diet’?

It sounds like 'old people's smell' which can happen age 40 on. My DH developed it age 46 and I find it really nauseating. www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7895755/Worried-youve-got-old-people-smell-Experts-reveal-reduce-natural-odour-ageing-skin.html

Diabetes or Ketosis, as others have said.

Ah that makes sense! He's not eaten much last few days.

BatsandFrogs why the inverted commas? His diet is admirable....no additives, lean meat and a lot of veg/salad/fruit. Some carbs.

Water...herbal tea.

DH has just lost 2 stone on the Keto diet and he smells weird

Fruit Oh my GOD! "Old people smell!" no!

Even my Mum doesn't smell old and she's in her 70s!

He has to go to the doctor to get checked out.

Could his blood sugars be out of control if he has barely eaten?

Lizs yes...and so the ketosis explanation works. He's a light eater at best but he's been very, very busy for three days and so hasn't eaten regularly.

Google suggests fruity/pear drop smelling breath for diabetes. I think he needs to see a GP.

He really needs to be persuaded to go to the Drs.

Greyish forgive my ignorance but isn't diabetes something you're born with or get through being overweight/eating a lot of sugar?

My husband had this when he had Kidney problems. Is it a bit like pear drops? His only other symptom was headaches.

No. Type 1 can be triggered at any age. My Dad in his 70s has just been diagnosed with it (rare but not unique). Type 2 traditionally associated with being overweight etc but not always (I know less about type 2).

@FortunesFave I know two type 1 diabetics who were diagnosed in their 20s and 30s.

@FortunesFave

Ah that makes sense! He's not eaten much last few days.

BatsandFrogs why the inverted commas? His diet is admirable....no additives, lean meat and a lot of veg/salad/fruit. Some carbs.

Water...herbal tea.

Quote marks because I was quoting your words.

Because I was thinking about ketosis / low carbs.

If it smells like pear drops it Needs investigating

Diabetes? Get him to see a GP

@FortunesFave

Greyish forgive my ignorance but isn't diabetes something you're born with or get through being overweight/eating a lot of sugar?

diabetes (both types) can occur at any age and any weight.

it can sometimes occur after a cold or flu, there have been cases of diabetes folliwing covid-19 infection.

forgive my ignorance but isn't diabetes something you're born with or get through being overweight/eating a lot of sugar?

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition. You can develop it at any age. It’s nothing to do with diet. Type 2 is related to diet and lifestyle.

I’d think your DH isn’t eating enough carbs. He can still go for healthy carbs, but what you’re describing sounds like ketosis, which isn’t a good way to function longterm.

Definitely get him to the doctors. The smell you describe is likely to be something easily treated. But the unusual and unpleasant breath that my late husband had turned out to be a symptom of his terminal cancer.

(It smelled nothing like you describe, so don't worry on that score - I just want to make the point to others, that unusual breath smell isn't something to be ignored)