Could a changed body odour mean my husband's prediabetes is worsening?

[nairnsoatcake]

Posted this in the Diabetes section but no responses since Thursday night.... trying again...

My husband has been prediabetic for 17 months or so. His Hba1c fluctuates between 45 and 47, the last test was done in March and was 46. He has really bad habits, won't attend the nutrition clinic, I do cook healthy evening meals for us, but he is a total sugar addict and if I "police" him, he just gets snarky.

He takes 3 heaped sugars in his tea and coffee and is trying to cut down, if there is a pack of biscuits or cupcakes around, he feels compelled to eat them all. He hasn't really had any obvious symptoms, bar urinating through the night a bit too frequently, but I have been putting that down to too much tea late at night.

I am supportive and try to help him make changes, sometimes I try to scare him about what could happen if he doesn't make changes now, but he just says he's fine and if there was an issue, the GP would contact him.

I've always liked my husbands smell, under his arms, his skin generally. But the past few months, he really smells bad. Like a sweet but acrid smell when he sweats. I have read that this can be a sign of prediabetes getting worse, or actually ketones? His urine smells normal.... I'm trying to get him to the GP to report it and have further tests, but he's being incredibly stubborn and saying I'm imagining it.

Help!

You can take a horse to water but you can't make it drink.
OP, you can't help him if he won't help himself. You could see if there is a diabetic clinic or diabetes asdicustion helpline. You could then ring, ask about his change in body smell. Then pass the info onto him and then if he doesn't want to do anything about it then leave it there.
I mean this kindly but he's responsible for his own health and you worrying about it whilst he's oblivious isn't doing much for your health.

Hi Op

Sorry you are not being heard. I am certain that if you smell something different it might be an indicator for what you say of the diabetes getting worse.

My husband could smell when I was pregnant as the hormones changed my scent.

There are dogs that can predict when someone is gonna get a seizure or other conditions so I think it is the most underrated sense but truly amazing.

Other factor to consider is his age. As we age the compounds in the skin oxidise and can make it smell rancid. It may be interesting to use a traditional bar of soap to remove the bacteria.

However, it is important that he goes to the GP and takes charge of his own health. He is an adult. He knows that he can’t be eating that much sugar and if he continues down that path the first thing to go are his kidneys and the secondly his eyesight. Tell him to consider that future and tell him that you are not prepared to be his carer if he doesn’t care for himself first.

Different, but I have type one diabetes, when I have a severe but not immediately threatening hyper my husband can smell it, especially in warmer weather when I’m sweating more.