Texas Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Exam

The presence of sweet-smelling breath is a classic sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This specific odor is often described as resembling the smell of fruit or nail polish remover and is caused by the accumulation of ketones in the body when glucose cannot be utilized effectively due to insufficient insulin. As the body breaks down fat for energy instead of carbohydrates, it produces these ketones, which are released in the breath, leading to this distinctive sweet aroma.

Recognizing this symptom is crucial for timely intervention, as DKA is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. If a person with diabetes demonstrates this symptom along with other signs such as elevated blood glucose levels, they may be deteriorating into DKA and need urgent care.