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I bet most (type 1) diabetics could smell other diabetics if they were trying. High blood sugar especially changes your body odor a ton. You sweat a lot more sugar for your skin bacteria to digest.

Not to discount the woman or the article, we should totally be researching this stuff

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Anybody can learn pretty quick to smell diabetics. Low blood sugar leaves one's breath bitter and metallic, high blood sugar causes fruity, sweet breath. It's extremely obvious if you're at all close to them.

On a ketogenic[diet] ... your body uses fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. This shift causes a major spike in ketones, the source of acetone breath. ... Sweet-smelling breath may be a short-term side effect of this type of diet.[0]

[0] https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/acetone-breath-diabetes

So low blood sugar causes sweet breath.

Ketones are the "metallic" smell. I wouldn't describe it as sweet.

It's literally the homeless alcoholic smell.

Wow, til.

Is there anything they can do about the breath? (ditto people on keto diet)

They used to diagnose it by tasting urine.

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