[jimbethel]

Hi,

My name is Jim and I am a lymphoma cancer survivor and pre-diabetic. My count is typically about 125. For the last 6 months my sense of smell is very keen. I have the ability to detect when somebody comes into the room by smell. I can also smell myself. My odor is a sickening sweet smell leaning towards a chemical trace. Using Ocean saline nasal spray will eliminate the smell for a few minutes. My wife can't detect the smell. I can go thru my home and tell where I have spent a good amount of time by smell. Has anybody experienced this condition?

[Penny]

Hi Jim and welcome here. Once years ago, I was sure I had a bad odor, no one else could smell it but me, even my doctor could not. But to me it was so strong and about made me sick. We finally figured out I had a sinus infection, even though I had no other symptoms. A course of antibiotics took care of that problem within a few days. It's something you could check out anyway.

[EeyoreButterfly]

I'm not sure, but it seems like I read somewhere that a heightened sense of smell can be a side effet of chemotherapy. I've not heard of it being related to diabetes (except for a fruity smell on your breath when your blood sugar is way too high), but then I haven't been at this long.

[Amelie]

I don't really have a problem with my own odor, but I can relate to having a sensitive nose. I have an extremely keen sense of smell too. People tell me I could put the sniffer dogs at the airport out of business.

For example, I can be in the bedroom, and I know when my husband is eating an apple in the living room because I can smell the apple. I can't hear him biting into it, but I can smell it!

I also know when food is done cooking by its smell, and I can tell when it's starting to turn bad long before anyone else can.

I can also smell bad odors that no one else can. An electrician was here doing some work, and left a hole in the wall, and the musty smell coming out of the hole is almost almost unbearable for me, but my husband can't smell a thing.

I tend to get on people's nerves when I talk about smelling strange odors. They think I must be imagining things, but I've found the source of the odors enough times that I know I'm not imagining things, I just have a really unusually good sense of smell. It's my superpower, I guess.

That would be interesting if it were somehow related to diabetes.

[scarlet]

Hi Jim,

I can relate. Fairly recently I have been able to detect smells and can identify which person was recently sitting somewhere or if my husband was recently in the room. It's gotten so bad that I cannot cuddle with my husband first thing in the morning. (we sleep in separate bedrooms because of apnea/snoring) Its maddening.

I'm hoping it's because I'm still adjusting to my new meds (diagnosed 9/08) but I have actually made my husband shower before coming to the breakfast table! lol

Here's to it being temporary!

[livelong]

All last summer I had this smell on me that smelled like after you eat a glazed donut and the sugar is still on your hands. It was really noticeable on my hands and my wife could even smell if I ask her to smell my hands up close . I would wash my hands and it would be back within an hour. It finally went away. I do not take any medications at all so it was not medicine. My BG 90% of the time is under 120 after meals so it was not some high BG causing it. I do have a little better smell than my wife but no hound dog smell like Amelie.

[AngelKitty]

Hi Jim,
My husband call me a "blood hound". I know exactly what you are talking about, having an exceptional sense of smell drives me nuts sometimes, detecting smells and odours that others can't is annoying - sometimes my hubby thinks I'm making it up until we pin point the source. I could actually smell the change of my body before I was diagnosed as a T1. I remember the Dr asking me why I thought I had diabetes and I remember replying that I could smell it on my skin! They thought I was nuts! Anyhoo, just thought I'd let you know you're not alone on this one,

[notme]

This seems to be a pattern. I have a very very keen sense of smell. My husband says "you can smell and ant fart at fifty paces".... it is true!

I bath twice a day because I think I don't smell good if I don't.

Intersting!!

[robbytype2]

weird, i have strange hightend smell , but i noticed before i started taking meds my breath had a strong sweet smell to it , i think i have heard other diabetics complain of sweet smelling breath and sweat , lol i even thought my urine smelt like sugar but since meds my breathe not so sweet smelling

[robbytype2]

Originally Posted by notme

This seems to be a pattern. I have a very very keen sense of smell. My husband says "you can smell and ant fart at fifty paces".... it is true!

I bath twice a day because I think I don't smell good if I don't.

Intersting!!

lol just had to add i shower at least 2x a day also ..so your not a freak or i am too my wife just does not understand why i cant go a day without 2 showers??i cant even wear a shirt if it sat in the washer to long before drying if they do not go into drier shortly after wash is done i think they smell nasty like mildew o.k i could be a freak

[notme]

NOOOO Your not!!! I have to take clothes out of the washer almost immediately or they get washed again. They do smell sour or moldy. Wow.... this is weird.

[AngelKitty]

Originally Posted by notme

This seems to be a pattern. I have a very very keen sense of smell. My husband says "you can smell and ant fart at fifty paces".... it is true!

Intersting!!

Ha, ha, ha LOL oh you made me laugh.
Your husband and my husband would have a ball if they got together!

[RandallFlagg]

Originally Posted by robbytype2

lol just had to add i shower at least 2x a day also ..so your not a freak or i am too my wife just does not understand why i cant go a day without 2 showers??i cant even wear a shirt if it sat in the washer to long before drying if they do not go into drier shortly after wash is done i think they smell nasty like mildew o.k i could be a freak

Your not a freak If I forget to move a load to the dryer, I just fire up the washer again. I know the towels are gonna smell like unwashed feet, the locker room in high school or just plain b.o. I've gotten to the point of only 1 shower a day, but before I was diagnosed I could shower 2-3 times a day and still not feel clean.

[Rob43]

I also have bad smell in nose that nobody smells other then me. Sometimes it's real strong. My BG has be high in 400 range and could this be causing this smell problem? It's more like a chemcial smell then a fruit smell.


Thanks, Rob

[howdysf]

maybe it's just your upper lip... ha ha j/k