Urine smell from ketosis or ketoacidosis

#1

I adopted a low glycemic diet after a friend saw such positive results. In the beginning my purpose was to try gluten free, but my picky diet turned out to comply with the atkins diet and I lost some weight during the process. I’m a slender person and didn’t intend to lose weight. Anyway…after I figured out the diet better and started including lots of raw vegetables and fruit with my protien I began to feel better than I did in my early twenties (I’m 40 now). Needless to say I am a changed man and will never go back to my old diet.

but now I have a question. I think my adopted diet sometimes puts me in ketosis. A few weeks ago my urine looked orange and I googled it. Google said that ketosis could cause orange urine and it seemed like a real possibility so I assume that’s what it was. Yesterday I ate an apple for breakfast, 10 oz sirloin with fries and green beans for lunch, and then 20 oz of great greens juice at jamba juice around three o’clock. At 7pm I urinated and it smelled sweet and fruity, not the usual “urine smell”. So I googled that and all my results mentioned ketoacidosis and diabetes. I’m a little unnerved about it. Should I be? Does ketosis change urine odor like this?

#2

Urine in ketosis may smell different. Though it’s not usually a different color. Non diabetics cannot get into ketoacidosis via diet. No how, no way. But many folks are diabetic and don’t know it. If you have any doubt, get tested. ASAP.

(Tim W) #3

Some sources state that only those with type I diabetes can suffer ketoacidosis.

Other sources state that those with type II diabetes can suffer ketoacidosis but it’s rare.

Are you a diagnosed diabetic? They used to diagnose diabetes via “sweet urine” (they would taste it).

If you had that many carbs early in the day, I’d highly doubt you are in suffering from ketoacidosis. When I’m in heavy ketosis (say fasting for several days) my urine does NOT smell fruity, honestly, it stinks, but that’s just ancedotal evidence for me, not a hard and fast rule for anyone else.

Sometimes it’s best to go on how you feel, not what DR Google worries you about.

#4

I have never been diagnosed as diabetic. That’s why the results alarmed me. I was just seeking advice on whether I should get tested. I feel great and have no reason to see a doctor. And I have read that when ketones show up in urine it will be orange. What changes in odor can I expect from ketosis?

(Tim W) #5

It varies but, for me and the wife, it’s dark yellow and smells BAD.

It’s dark enough that, if it wasn’t ketosis, it would appear that we are badly dehydrated.

(Tovan Nhsh) #6

I can second this. The smell can peel paint from the wall.

#7

thanks for your insights. Looks like I’m going to the doctor to rule out diabetes. Is it possible that the great greens juice I drank that afternoon made my urine smell like a fruity drink?

#8

Reminds me of the time I was dehydrated, in deep ketosis, and ate a bunch of asparagus.

:flushed:

(Bacon for the Win) #9

why not just test your blood sugar at home? Chances are you’re fine and will then not be subjected to the medical community’s lecture of how keto is going be so awful for you.

#10

Could it be the French fries, fruit, and juice affecting color and smell?

#11

I don’t know. I just know that my new diet habits make me feel great, my urine always smelled like urine before, and the other day my urine smelled pleasant. Kinda like a fart smelling like perfume…it’s unexpected. I may start monitoring my blood sugar myself and avoid the doctor. Can anyone point me to some sort of manual to tell me how and when to check it? How to interpret the results?