Diabetes Talking

Question:

What would cause everything to taste salty? I noticed it a couple of days ago. Even just licking my lips I can taste salt and wonder if it is a sign of too much sodium in my diet. I rarely add salt to my food but do eat processed foods (which I know can be high in sodium). The only new meds added recently is Vioxx (if that makes a difference)… Thanks, Dave

Response:

I know some meds can cause a metallic taste.  Otherwise, I dunno. c

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What would cause everything to taste salty? I noticed it a couple of days ago. Even just licking my lips I can taste salt and wonder if it is a sign of too much sodium in my diet. I rarely add salt to my food but do eat processed foods (which I know can be high in sodium). The only new meds added recently is Vioxx (if that makes a difference)… Thanks, Dave

Response:

Dave, This might be silly, or too obvious, but do you live in a hot or humid area? I’m asking because I do, and subsequently sweat.  Not dripping, but in the summer I do "glow."  I don’t add salt to much food, but when I sweat, I sweat A LOT of salt.  It can get on your lips.  (In the winter, I don’t run across this.) It’s just a thought. Steph

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What would cause everything to taste salty? I noticed it a couple of days ago. Even just licking my lips I can taste salt and wonder if it is a sign of too much sodium in my diet. I rarely add salt to my food but do eat processed foods (which I know can be high in sodium). The only new meds added recently is Vioxx (if that makes a difference)… Thanks, Dave

Response:

i had something like that going on right before i was first dx’d. it ended up being a gum infection – and i think it may have saved me because i wasn’t eating as much.  it wasn’t really salty but i can see where some might say that’s the best example. lol i guess i would say a mild salty with a nasty after taste. — http://www.diabetes.org Shadow-Spirit 39 – Male – Type – 2 Dx’d January 27, 2003 330lbs now 264 A1C = 5.1 July 15

: What would cause everything to taste salty? I noticed it a couple of : days ago. Even just licking my lips I can taste salt and wonder if it : is a sign of too much sodium in my diet. I rarely add salt to my food : but do eat processed foods (which I know can be high in sodium). The : only new meds added recently is Vioxx (if that makes a difference)… : : Thanks, : Dave

Response:

What would cause everything to taste salty? I noticed it a couple of days ago. Even just licking my lips I can taste salt and wonder if it is a sign of too much sodium in my diet. I rarely add salt to my food but do eat processed foods (which I know can be high in sodium). The only new meds added recently is Vioxx (if that makes a difference)…

As a chemist, let me tell you that sodium in your diet per se does *not* taste salty.  If you don’t believe me, try drinking a mild solution of sodium bicarbonate.  It never tastes salty, no matter how strong you make it. In this time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the problem is normally not getting enough salt, if you sweat a lot.  My recipes are now running with too *little* salt, not too much. If everything tastes salty to you, it may be that the food you are eating is simply over-salted.  American food is noted for this.  They use salt, and sugar, for seasonings.  It may be time to switch to canned food, which goes far more sparingly on the salt. I recommend you try that first.  Then, and only then, if your problem persists, should you seek medical help. Michel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks, Dave

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What would cause everything to taste salty? I noticed it a couple of days ago. Even just licking my lips I can taste salt and wonder if it is a sign of too much sodium in my diet. I rarely add salt to my food but do eat processed foods (which I know can be high in sodium). The only new meds added recently is Vioxx (if that makes a difference)… As a chemist, let me tell you that sodium in your diet per se does *not* taste salty.  If you don’t believe me, try drinking a mild solution of sodium bicarbonate.  It never tastes salty, no matter how strong you make it. In this time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the problem is normally not getting enough salt, if you sweat a lot.  My recipes are now running with too *little* salt, not too much. If everything tastes salty to you, it may be that the food you are eating is simply over-salted.  American food is noted for this.  They use salt, and sugar, for seasonings.  It may be time to switch to canned food, which goes far more sparingly on the salt.

I’d reccommend avoiding processed foods. I recommend you try that first.  Then, and only then, if your problem persists, should you seek medical help. Michel Thanks, Dave

You might visit your dentist. A damaged filling and rotten tooth both give a salty taste in the mouth – for a lot of people. Are your gums bleeding? Even a small amount as a result of bacteria build up can cause this. HTH Pete Diagnosed 20/03/03 Type II D&E + Metformin + Gliclazide + Asprin 210lbs at Dx to 170 lbs 02/08/03 target 161.

Response:

}If that were the case, the salty taste would be continuous }between feedings.  That doesn’t seem to be the case here. }Seem to be?

Actually, it has been pretty continuous. Specifically, it seems my lips are the source of the saltiness and not inside my mouth (weird). As to being a chemist, not one now but should have been. Chemistry was my passion in high school and I scored very high on the college ACT tests in science that year (top 2% in the nation) but couldn’t afford the tuition at the time. <sigh I realize there is no correlation between the taste of sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride (table salt). I dropped off the chloride for convenience. I am a little thirsty, maybe I can find some ‘heavy’ water (a little chemistry humor)… :) Later, Dave

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What would cause everything to taste salty? I noticed it a couple of days ago. Even just licking my lips I can taste salt and wonder if it is a sign of too much sodium in my diet. I rarely add salt to my food but do eat processed foods (which I know can be high in sodium). The only new meds added recently is Vioxx (if that makes a difference)… As a chemist, let me tell you that sodium in your diet per se does *not* taste salty.  If you don’t believe me, try drinking a mild solution of sodium bicarbonate.  It never tastes salty, no matter how strong you make it. In this time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the problem is normally not getting enough salt, if you sweat a lot.  My recipes are now running with too *little* salt, not too much. If everything tastes salty to you, it may be that the food you are eating is simply over-salted.  American food is noted for this.  They use salt, and sugar, for seasonings.  It may be time to switch to canned food, which goes far more sparingly on the salt. I’d reccommend avoiding processed foods. On what basis?  Furthermore, define "processed foods."

No – everyone knows what processed foods are and if you want to know what is in the tin the bloody well read it. A small selection will highlight the point. Are all foods that have been cooked been "processed"? (Basically, that’s all that happens to canned food.)

No it is not – to all tinned foods. If so, most people are simply not interested in your recommendation.

No – you are not interested. You do not speak for everyone . More follows… I recommend you try that first.  Then, and only then, if your problem persists, should you seek medical help. Michel Thanks, Dave You might visit your dentist. A damaged filling and rotten tooth both give a salty taste in the mouth – for a lot of people. If that were the case, the salty taste would be continuous between feedings.  That doesn’t seem to be the case here.

Seem to be? Are your gums bleeding? Even a small amount as a result of bacteria build up can cause this. I’ve been there.  It would take far more blood than I could generate to give me a salty taste in the mouth.  You are simply too theoretical.

You are simply too pedantic and looking for an argument. I got rid of my bleeding gums by taking a 30-day round of doxycycline.  The bleeding gums never came back.  Dentists are surgeons (mechanics, really), not doctors of internal medicine.  They just throw up their hands.  They never think of attacking the gum infection via the saliva, where doxycycline is readily secreted.

Really? Well I feel a lot better for knowing that. Doxycycline is also equally effective in treating anthrax as Cipro, and is FDA approved for same,  but without the upset in the large intestine, since it’s completely absorbed in the small intestine.  Everyone should have their own stash on hand in their frig.  There, it will last virtually forever. Michel

When you have got off your soap box and you petty self important ego has returned to an acceptable size I might just consider letting you out of my kill file. I put it down to an aberation. OTOH it could be that you are just an arsehole. I posted in good faith. I think you ought to read it again. I was offering some advice based upon my experience and knowledge – limited though it may be according to your perception. I am no chemist but then again you know diddly squat about me. Thank you for your contribution. Pete Diagnosed 20/03/03 Type II D&E + Metformin + Gliclazide + Asprin 210lbs at Dx to 170 lbs 02/08/03 target 161.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What would cause everything to taste salty? I noticed it a couple of days ago. Even just licking my lips I can taste salt and wonder if it is a sign of too much sodium in my diet. I rarely add salt to my food but do eat processed foods (which I know can be high in sodium). The only new meds added recently is Vioxx (if that makes a difference)… As a chemist, let me tell you that sodium in your diet per se does *not* taste salty.  If you don’t believe me, try drinking a mild solution of sodium bicarbonate.  It never tastes salty, no matter how strong you make it. In this time of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the problem is normally not getting enough salt, if you sweat a lot.  My recipes are now running with too *little* salt, not too much. If everything tastes salty to you, it may be that the food you are eating is simply over-salted.  American food is noted for this.  They use salt, and sugar, for seasonings.  It may be time to switch to canned food, which goes far more sparingly on the salt. I’d reccommend avoiding processed foods.

On what basis?  Furthermore, define "processed foods." Are all foods that have been cooked been "processed"? (Basically, that’s all that happens to canned food.) If so, most people are simply not interested in your recommendation. More follows… I recommend you try that first.  Then, and only then, if your problem persists, should you seek medical help. Michel Thanks, Dave You might visit your dentist. A damaged filling and rotten tooth both give a salty taste in the mouth – for a lot of people.

If that were the case, the salty taste would be continuous between feedings.  That doesn’t seem to be the case here. Are your gums bleeding? Even a small amount as a result of bacteria build up can cause this.

I’ve been there.  It would take far more blood than I could generate to give me a salty taste in the mouth.  You are simply too theoretical. I got rid of my bleeding gums by taking a 30-day round of doxycycline.  The bleeding gums never came back.  Dentists are surgeons (mechanics, really), not doctors of internal medicine.  They just throw up their hands.  They never think of attacking the gum infection via the saliva, where doxycycline is readily secreted. Doxycycline is also equally effective in treating anthrax as Cipro, and is FDA approved for same,  but without the upset in the large intestine, since it’s completely absorbed in the small intestine.  Everyone should have their own stash on hand in their frig.  There, it will last virtually forever. Michel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – HTH Pete Diagnosed 20/03/03 Type II D&E + Metformin + Gliclazide + Asprin 210lbs at Dx to 170 lbs 02/08/03 target 161.

Response: