Officers in Maryland regularly look for signs of drunk driving, such as odor of alcohol, during traffic stops. While odor of alcohol is often a result of alcohol consumption, it can also be caused by diabetes. As a diabetic person’s insulin levels reach abnormal levels, his/her body attempts to use stored fats and proteins as energy in place of glucose. When fat is metabolized, it results in ketone bodies and can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. As this happens, the body attempts to excrete ketones via the respiratory tract, resulting in sweet or acetone-like odor, commonly mistaken for alcohol. If you are diabetic and have been charged with DUI, call Azari Law at 301.362.3300 to discuss your case today.