Sweet Taste in Mouth for Diabetes

Sweet taste in mouth, also known as dysgeusia, is a problem of alteration of the sensation of taste. In this case, one is not able to enjoy the natural taste of food, which may lead to decreased appetite.

What Causes Sweet Taste in Mouth for Diabetes?

● Certain medicines

Many medicines can cause dry mouth and lead to growth of some bacteria which gives sweet taste.

● Disorder of the digestive system

An enzyme in the saliva called amylase can break down the carbohydrates (starch) into simple sugars, such as maltose. Ptyalin, secreted by the pancreas, is one of the main amylase enzymes found in the mouth. For people with diabetes, more ptyalin will be secreted. As a result, more maltose can be produced, leading to occurrence of sweet taste in the mouth.


● High blood sugar level

High blood sugar level in patients with this disease will lead to increased number of sugar in spittle, thus leading to the occurrence of sweet taste in mouth.

In addition, without good control of blood sugar levels, a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis can be caused in which there is much accumulation of ketones in the body. As a result, fruity smelling breath may occur.