Quote:
Originally posted by kelly_elaine:
Howdy!
My dad has been complaining of burning feet and dizziness. He also has unbelievably bad breath. Yuck! He has 2 brothers that already have and his mother also had diabetes. Should he be tested?
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Yes, he should most definitely be tested for diabetes, and pronto. One quick test he can do at home is to get some urine test strips at the drugstore to test for glucose and ketones in the urine (Bayer is one brand). You will likely have to ask the pharmacist for these. Any indication of glucose or ketones in the urine is cause for alarm unless he is on a very low carbohydrate diet, then ketones might be expected (that is called ketosis), but glucose would not be.
The bad breath could be caused by ketoacidosis, a serious condition. Ketoacidosis can be caused when there is insufficient insulin to get the bloodsugar (glucose) into the cells for fuel which results in the body metabolizing fat for fuel instead. This results in high ketone and high glucose levels in the blood. Ketones are a byproduct of fat metabolism. Excess ketones are excreted via the urine and the lungs. Ketones excreted via the breath can cause bad breath. A combination of high ketone levels and high glucose levels in the bloodstream and urine results in a very acidic condition that can lead to coma and possibly death.
Burning feet are possibly a symptom of diabetic neuropathy, a condition caused by very high bloodsugar levels which results in peripherial nerve damage.
He needs to get tested.
Alan
just a few questions! 
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