Does your poop smell sweet or tangy? Is it a sign of diabetes?
Such sweet smelling poop questions are often asked by people daily. Since blood sugar is quite common, knowing its common signs usually confuses people. Poop is the body waste whose smell depends on the type of food you eat.
Sometimes it smells musky or metallic depending on the ingredients of various foods we eat. The onions which contain the sulfates make your poop smell sulfurous. It doesn't mean you ignore the strange smell that might be an early sign of diabetes. In this post, we will answer this question and discuss the associated risk factor.
What Causes Sweet Smelling Poop?
A sweet smelling poop may be a sign of prediabetes. When a person has diabetes or has early symptoms, the level of blood glucose increases in the body. These blood sugar level gets uncontrolled whenever we eat food that contains high sugar. At this stage, our body gets rid of extra glucose and releases the sweet smell.
Apart from the poop, you might also notice the sweet aroma from breath and urine. So, it is the way to remove the extra amount of blood glucose. However, it is a clear indication of Clostridioides difficile infection. It is a germ or bacteria that causes diarrhea.
The problem of sweet smelling is becoming common among diabetic patients in the US. Every 5 out of 10 people complain about the sweet smell in urine, breath, and other body waste. It is one of the prominent symptoms of diabetes in women that often go unnoticed.
The fruity smell among women is a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis. During this, the patient's body accumulates the acetones in the higher amount, which causes sweet-smelling poop, urine, and breath.
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Symptoms Of The Pleasant Smelling Poop
We indicate the two major reasons behind the sweet smelling poop. You might ask what the symptoms of fruity-smelling poop are. So, the answer is that when you get fruity or other smells from poop, it is the cause of the bacterial infection. Clostridiodes difficle infection(CDI) occurs due to the antibiotics. It causes severe diarrhea and often targets women and men who take antibiotics in high doses. Here are the possible symptoms of the sweet smelling poop diabetes:
- A high fever
- Diarrhea
- Loss of Appetite
- Pain in stomach
- Frequent fever with high temperature
- Difficulty in the digestion
- Nausea
- Cramps
Who Are The Higher Risk Of Getting CDI Or Pleasant Smelling Poop?
Anyone who can get a bacterial infection called CDI has prediabetes. However, the majority of the cases are seen in people of the age of over 65 years. On the other hand, people who take antibiotics also have a high risk of getting sweet smelling poop.
- Having a family history of CDI
- People who have aged between 50 to 65
- Having a long stay in hospitals or medical centers
- People who have a weak immune system
- Taking high doses of the Antibiotics
- Having chronic diabetes or kidney problem
- People who take the proton pump inhibitor (PPI)
Possible Treatment To Prevent The CDI Or Sweet Smelling Of Poop?
Since the infection that caused the sweet smelling poops is caused by the antibiotics, you can stop taking it or find an alternative. Another factor you need to keep in mind is the type of food you eat. As it is linked with diabetes, you must take care of your diet.
Maintain the insulin level in the body and avoid all foods with high sugars. Apart from this, start taking the antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Some of the names of the antibiotics that can help you with CDI or pleasant-smelling poo are as follows:
- Penicillin
- Fidaxomicin
- Clindamycin
- Cephalosporins
- Fluoroquinolones
- Fidaxomicin
- Vancomycin
- Metronidazole
Keep Yourself Hydrated
You also take every measure to maintain the sugar level in your blood. Since the sweet smell of poop is an indication of diabetes, go for a medical checkup and take the injection of insulin. Apart from this, keep yourself hydrated by drinking the required water. Doctors suggest drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day.
Tips On Preventing The Infection That Caused Sweet Smelling Poop
Apart from taking medical measures, you can also follow the simple step to prevent the spread of CDI. First of all, include nutrition-rich foods in your daily diet. Consult your doctor about adding the essential food item according to the body's requirements.
The diet of a diabetic patient is different from that of a normal person. When you eat the prescribed diet, the sweet smell of the poop will disappear after some time. Here are the essential measures you need to take from your side:
- Once your diarrhea stops, don't go outside for at least two days.
- Wash your hands properly with soap and warm water.
- Maintain hygiene in your toilet by cleaning it after every use.
- Do regular exercise and do morning walks.
- Avoid eating junk food.
- Wash your clothes that smell of poop separately with warm water.
- Do not take medicine without the prescription of your doctor.
- Keep your towels, clothes, and flannels separate from other family members.
- Perform the diabetes test every week.
Wrap Up
The high blood glucose in the body indicates diabetes which sometimes causes sweet smelling poop. Various patients also have the fruity smell of urine and breathing, a symptom of diabetic ketoacidosis. However, another bacterial infection that creates the serious medical condition of diarrhea is Clostridioides difficile.
During this, you may experience a high fever, nausea, loss of appetite, and pain in the stomach. People over the age of 65 or taking antibiotics are more prone to this infection. You can start taking doctor-prescribed antibiotics and maintain proper hygiene to get rid of the sweet smell of the poop.
If you have a sweet smelly poo, then it may be a sign of diabetes that needs to prevent on an urgent basis. In case of a severe diarrhea condition, we suggest you seek medical help. We hope you got the answer to your question. If you have any questions, connect with us on social media or write an email at info@healthtipsandguide.com.
