Diabetes is a common condition that affects around 4.7 million people in the UK, and 90 per cent of all cases are caused by type 2 diabetes. The condition is caused by the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin. Without enough insulin, the body struggles to convert sugar in the blood into useable energy, and you may develop some diabetes symptoms. One of those symptoms is a change to your urine. A distinctive smell when you go to the toilet could be an early warning sign of high blood sugar.
In people with type 1 diabetes and some people with type 2 who take insulin, sweet or fruity-smelling urine may be due to ketones
Amy Campbell
Sweet-smelling urine may indicate that you have high blood sugar, revealed diabetes nutritionist Amy Campbell.
Glucose can ‘spill’ into your urine if your blood sugar levels are too high, which may lead to the sweet smell.
But the smell, which some people describe as being a bit fruity, could also be caused by ketones, she added.
“In people with type 1 diabetes and some people with type 2 who take insulin, sweet or fruity-smelling urine may be due to ketones.
“Ketones are formed when the body burns fat for fuel, and this can occur when there isn’t enough insulin to move glucose into cells for energy.
“Urine ketones can be measured using ketone sticks that are available in your pharmacy.
Diabetes type 2 symptoms: High blood sugar signs include having a bad urine smell
