Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Perfume Taste In Mouth While Having Type 2 Diabetes?
Posted on
Wed, 20 Apr 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 20 Apr 2016
Answered on
Fri, 10 Jun 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : What could cause a perfume taste in my mouth, out of nowhere, when there is no perfume around? The only health issue I know of is type 2 diabetes, recently diagnosed.
Brief Answer:
Test for ketones and elevated sugar
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Unusual taste and smell sensations can happen for a variety of innocuous reasons, but given that you have Type 2 diabetes, I am concerned that you may be perceiving elevated blood sugars or ketones.
Do you have a device to check a finger stick blood sugar level, and a strip for dipping in your urine to check for ketones?
Test for ketones and elevated sugar
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Unusual taste and smell sensations can happen for a variety of innocuous reasons, but given that you have Type 2 diabetes, I am concerned that you may be perceiving elevated blood sugars or ketones.
Do you have a device to check a finger stick blood sugar level, and a strip for dipping in your urine to check for ketones?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I don't. My insurance was canceled, I'm trying to get new insurance but, money. If I take the metformin regularly, that would make it get better? Do I have to have a prescription to get a tester or can anyone buy it? Is this something that could be an emergency?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
You usually can get a tester at a drug store - I don't think you would need a prescription. If you can get on medical assistance, it would be covered.
About the Metformin - if your blood sugars are mildly elevated, the Metformin will take care of the problem.
But if your blood sugars are quite high or producing ketones, then you might need insulin.
In terms of whether this is an emergency, when people with diabetes have ketoacidosis, the usual symptoms are extreme thirst, excessive urination, and feeling ill, nausea. I don't think tasting perfume is a typical emergency symptom for diabetes, but if you start having any of the other symptoms, then yes, go to the ER.
Information
Detailed Answer:
You usually can get a tester at a drug store - I don't think you would need a prescription. If you can get on medical assistance, it would be covered.
About the Metformin - if your blood sugars are mildly elevated, the Metformin will take care of the problem.
But if your blood sugars are quite high or producing ketones, then you might need insulin.
In terms of whether this is an emergency, when people with diabetes have ketoacidosis, the usual symptoms are extreme thirst, excessive urination, and feeling ill, nausea. I don't think tasting perfume is a typical emergency symptom for diabetes, but if you start having any of the other symptoms, then yes, go to the ER.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
