Fact check: Peeing under a tree and observing ants gathering indicates diabetes.

Verdict: false — Trust Score 15/100

The Threads post, originating from "lol hub," presents a series of humorous, pseudo-medical diagnostic methods related to urine and behavior. While there is a historical basis for observing ants being attracted to urine as a potential indicator of high sugar levels (a symptom sometimes associated with diabetes), the other diagnostic methods for high salt, high cholesterol, and Alzheimer's are entirely unscientific. The post is clearly satirical, but the presentation of these claims, even in jest, could be misleading if taken seriously. refuted by 5 sources refute the validity of these diagnostic methods.

false verification card — Trust Score 15/100
Platform
threads
Source author
jlemmerson — see all fact-checks of this account
Original post
https://www.threads.com/@jlemmerson/post/Dag2YGllPrj?xmt=AQG0iqdJCQ0UF1lkdBB1m5XXoEWvJu1LDhL7wJz30pUMZxh3GZDNei8sCotv9KojjWwOKu7f
Verified on
July 8, 2026
Verification ID
4wHQaSpTAd-6ZI2AzpM2Gw

Original content reviewed

Platform: THREADS Author: @jlemmerson --- Caption/Description --- 😂 I know a few people who are way ahead of the curve on this one. #Nature #Facts #Trumpflation #Healthcare #HighCost --- On-Screen Text (OCR) --- lol hub DUE TO THE RISING COST OF MEDICAL TESTS. JUST PEE UNDER A TREE AND WAIT A BIT. IF ANTS GATHER. DIABETES. IF GRASS DRIES UP. HIGH SALT. IT SMELLS LIKE BARBECUE. HIGH CHOLESTEROL. IF YOU FORGET TO PULL UP YOUR PANTS. ALZHEIMER'S. SOURCE PLATFORM: unclear ---VERIFICATION_SUMMARY--- Platform: THREADS Author: @jlemmerson --- HOW TO VERIFY THIS (provenance-first) --- 1. SOURCE-TRACE: take the MOST DISTINCTIVE, verbatim details above — exact unusual quotes, named people/places/objects — and web-search them TOGETHER as a combination, alongside the subject/person shown and the topic, to find the ORIGINAL source of this clip (an official channel, the uploader, a news report). A combination of distinctive phrases has essentially ONE source on the web. 2. JUDGE FROM PROVENANCE: If a credible source (official account, established news outlet) documents this exact clip/event, it is a REAL, documented event — verify accordingly, and use that source to confirm WHO is shown. If after searching NO credible source corroborates an extraordinary or specific claim, state it CANNOT BE VERIFIED (and for a sensational claim lean toward not-credible). Do NOT default to "verified" on tangential, generic facts. --- Caption/Description --- 😂 I know a few people who are way ahead of the curve on this one. #Nature #Facts #Trumpflation #Healthcare #HighCost --- Visible Text/Media --- On-screen text presents a humorous, pseudo-medical diagnostic method based on observing urine's effects under a tree. --- Claims to Verify --- 1. Peeing under a tree and observing ants gathering indicates diabetes. 2. Peeing under a tree and observing the grass drying up indicates high salt levels. 3. Peeing under a tree and observing a barbecue smell indicates high cholesterol. 4. Forgetti

Claims analyzed (4)

  1. misleading: Peeing under a tree and observing ants gathering indicates diabetes.
    Historically, the presence of ants attracted to urine was an early, albeit unscientific, indicator of diabetes due to excess sugar in the urine (glucosuria). However, modern medical diagnosis relies on blood tests and professional evaluation, not observing ants. While ants might be attracted to sugary urine, this method is not a definitive or reliable diagnostic tool for diabetes and can be caused by other conditions.
  2. misleading: Peeing under a tree and observing the grass drying up indicates high salt levels.
    Urine contains salts and can damage or kill plants, especially if concentrated or applied repeatedly. However, observing grass drying up after urinating is not a recognized diagnostic method for high salt levels in the human body. High salt levels in the body are diagnosed through medical tests.
  3. false: Peeing under a tree and observing a barbecue smell indicates high cholesterol.
    There is no scientific or medical basis to suggest that urine smelling like barbecue indicates high cholesterol. High cholesterol is typically a 'silent killer' with no obvious symptoms and is diagnosed through blood tests. While some research suggests a link between high cholesterol and 'phantom odor perception' (sensing smells that aren't there), this is not related to the actual smell of urine.
  4. misleading: Forgetting to pull up one's pants after peeing indicates Alzheimer's.
    Forgetting to pull up one's pants could be a sign of impaired judgment or difficulty with familiar tasks, which can be symptoms of Alzheimer's or other dementias. However, this single observation is not a definitive diagnostic criterion for Alzheimer's and requires a comprehensive medical evaluation. Alzheimer's is diagnosed through a combination of memory, cognitive, and neurological tests.

Sources consulted (18)

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