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Is Persistent Sweet Smell In Urine And Bowel Movements A Concern?
Question: Fr. the past few months my bowel movements and urine have a somewhat sweet smell. Could that be a symptom of somethings
Ng that I should have checked out?
Ng that I should have checked out?
Brief Answer:
Have blood sugar checked
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms. Erikson,
The odor of BMs and urine can vary significantly based on what you have been eating, but if you have noticed a consistent pattern, and it is a sweet smell to the urine, go in to see your doctor and have a fasting blood sugar and also a test called A1C done. The fasting blood sugar shows how your sugars are at one point in time. The A1C indicates the average of blood sugars over 2-3 months.
If a person's blood sugars are higher than they should be, the body may release some of that sugar into the urine and it, along with ketones, can cause a sweet smell.
But stool smelling sweet can be due to fermentation - incomplete break down of carbohydrates. It can be from not having enough enzymes to break down certain sugars, such as milk sugars, wheat, etc. If you aren't especially gassy or have indigestion, bloating, or abdominal symptoms, this is not necessarily a problem. But I would get the blood tests I described above, and also a urinalysis which can show if there is sugar in the urine.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Have blood sugar checked
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms. Erikson,
The odor of BMs and urine can vary significantly based on what you have been eating, but if you have noticed a consistent pattern, and it is a sweet smell to the urine, go in to see your doctor and have a fasting blood sugar and also a test called A1C done. The fasting blood sugar shows how your sugars are at one point in time. The A1C indicates the average of blood sugars over 2-3 months.
If a person's blood sugars are higher than they should be, the body may release some of that sugar into the urine and it, along with ketones, can cause a sweet smell.
But stool smelling sweet can be due to fermentation - incomplete break down of carbohydrates. It can be from not having enough enzymes to break down certain sugars, such as milk sugars, wheat, etc. If you aren't especially gassy or have indigestion, bloating, or abdominal symptoms, this is not necessarily a problem. But I would get the blood tests I described above, and also a urinalysis which can show if there is sugar in the urine.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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