It’s common to have lingering flavors after meals or snacks, especially when you eat something spicy with onions or garlic. It’s less common to taste fruit long after you ate it—and even more rare to have fruity breath that lingers.
If this happens, should you be worried?
What Causes Fruity Breath
While bad breath is often related to something you ate or poor dental hygiene, in some cases, it’s a sign of an underlying condition. Breath that tastes or smells like fruit, can indicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a complication of Type 1 diabetes. DKA can also affect those with Type 2 diabetes, but it’s less common.
DKA occurs when the body isn’t producing enough insulin due to stress, injury, illness or other factors. During DKA, the body is missing its main source of energy, and it turns to alternatives. Fat gets broken down quickly, producing acidic chemicals known as ketones. Because this happens so fast, the body can’t process the fat at its usual rate. Acid then builds up in the blood and can ultimately poison the body—a process known as ketoacidosis.
The high levels of ketones in the blood are what cause fruity breath.
When to See a Doctor About Fruity Breath
Should you seek medical care if you have fruity breath? Because ketoacidosis can be life-threatening, take its symptoms seriously and talk with your doctor about what you’re experiencing.
If you visit a doctor about fruity breath, you won’t get medical advice, diagnosis or treatment based solely on your breath. To identify an underlying medical issue, your doctor will also carefully review other symptoms and order lab work.
While DKA is most common in those known to have Type 1 diabetes, it can sometimes occur in those who haven’t yet been diagnosed. Keep an eye out for these additional symptoms:
- Abdominal discomfort
- Confusion
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Dry mouth
- Dry or flushed skin
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Nausea or vomiting
- Persistent fatigue
- Weakness
If you have diabetes and have glucose testing supplies on hand, check your blood sugar. A significantly elevated blood sugar level can be a red flag for DKA. High ketone levels in the urine are also a sign of ketoacidosis.
DKA can progress quite quickly once it begins. If you begin vomiting or have other symptoms, seek emergency medical attention. If you’re diagnosed with DKA, you’ll receive treatment to help restore normal levels of insulin in the body and replace electrolytes and fluids lost through frequent urination or vomiting.
If someone without a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis has DKA, treatment will also involve establishing a regimen to regulate blood sugar through medications, regular exercise and a nutrition plan. Support services, including diabetes education resources and classes, are also available to help those newly diagnosed.
