When your body fools the test: Medical conditions that matter

What your body might be saying (even when you haven’t had a drink).

​You’re doing everything right. You haven’t touched alcohol, but your test results say otherwise. If you live with diabetes, asthma, or other health conditions, this can feel especially unfair.

Here’s the truth: your body can sometimes mimic alcohol use.

Conditions like diabetes and fasting can lead to a buildup of ketones - natural chemicals your body makes when burning fat. Certain ketones, like acetone (which your body transforms into isopropanol), share chemical similarities with ethanol, the alcohol in drinks. Some breath and transdermal sensors can’t always tell the difference.

Similarly, people using asthma inhalers might be exposing themselves to ingredients in the inhaler that appear to the fuel cell sensor as alcohol use.

​The real danger is silence. Most monitoring programs never explain how health affects readings. Participants are left feeling helpless, when what they need is medical and forensic knowledge combined.

That’s why we built myCAMprogram.

Our modules show you how health conditions can influence results and more importantly, how to communicate that information to your supervising agency or healthcare provider. Understanding your body’s chemistry isn’t an excuse; it’s your best defense.

Key takeaway: Your body’s signals matter. Learn how to recognize when it’s your health, not alcohol, triggering the alarm.

Explore the Navigating Challenges section at mycamprogram.com.