The common belief that bees are attracted to individuals with diabetes touches upon the intersection of human metabolism and insect sensory biology. This notion suggests that a physiological change in a person with diabetes may make them a target for stinging insects. To determine the validity of this claim, it is necessary to examine the precise chemical compounds that govern both insect attraction and the altered odor profiles associated with certain metabolic states. While diabetes itself does not attract bees, the severe metabolic imbalance resulting from uncontrolled blood sugar can produce distinct, sweet-smelling chemical cues that mimic a food source.
The Direct Answer: Separating Fact from Anecdote
The general answer to whether bees are attracted to people with diabetes is no; a diagnosis alone does not change a person’s attractiveness to insects. For the vast majority of people with well-managed blood sugar levels, there is no scientific basis for increased bee interest. Attraction can occur, however, under specific circumstances related to uncontrolled hyperglycemia. This temporary metabolic state, not the chronic disease, causes the body to emit odors that overlap with the sweet scents bees are naturally seeking, but this is a rare reaction to a specific physiological event.
General Attraction: What Bees Are Truly Seeking
Honey bees and other foraging bees are primarily motivated by the need to collect nectar and pollen for their colony. Their search is driven by a combination of visual and olfactory cues that identify rewarding floral sources. Visually, bees are sensitive to colors, especially those in the ultraviolet spectrum, and they use patterns on petals to navigate toward the flower’s center. Olfactorily, bees possess antennae that detect complex volatile organic compounds, or floral scents, from a distance. These chemical signals advertise the presence of high-sucrose nectar, and a combination of scent and visual appearance is often far more attractive than either cue in isolation.
How Diabetic Metabolism Alters Human Odor Profiles
The metabolic state of uncontrolled diabetes can lead to the production of chemical byproducts that mimic the sweet odors bees detect. When the body cannot utilize glucose for energy due to insufficient insulin, it begins breaking down fat stores, a process that produces acidic compounds known as ketones. Acetone, one of the primary ketones, is volatile and is exhaled through the breath, often giving it a sweet or “fruity” smell. This elevated presence of acetone is what can attract a bee, as the insect interprets the scent as a potential source of sugar. This condition, known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), creates a temporary, high concentration of a sweet-smelling compound.
Bees vs. Scavengers: Identifying the Stinging Insect
The insect attraction often attributed to “bees” is frequently caused by a different kind of stinging insect, such as yellow jackets or various species of wasps. True honey bees are generally docile unless their hive is threatened, and their diet consists almost entirely of nectar and pollen. In contrast, yellow jackets and many wasps are omnivorous scavengers who actively seek out human food, including sugary drinks, fruit, and even meat, especially in the late summer and fall. These scavenging insects are attracted to the sweet residue left on the skin from sugary beverages or food, which is behaviorally distinct from the bee’s attraction to a metabolic odor. Physically, a honey bee has a fuzzy, round body and a barbed stinger, while yellow jackets and wasps are characterized by smooth, shiny bodies and a smooth stinger that allows them to sting multiple times.