Diabetes is a debilitating disease that affects millions of people across the world. For the unversed, diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood sugar levels are too high. Experts have seen an upward trend when it comes to incidences of diabetes in India. Your way of living and eating habits are two of the most common causes that lead to the onset of the disease.

This sneaky disease can creep into your system when you least expect it! The best way to mitigate the risk is by noticing some common diabetes signs and symptoms. Did you know that signs of diabetes may show up on your skin?

Dr Smita Bhoir Patil, homeopath, nutritionist and cosmetologist, took to her social media to share some signs of diabetes that show up on your skin. Let’s check them out!

Check out the video right here:

Skin signs of diabetes

When your blood sugar levels are too high, it can affect your skin as well. Here are the skin signs of diabetes or pre-diabetes as mentioned by Dr Patil in her video.

1. Dark areas

Too much insulin in the body can lead to dark patches on the back of your neck, armpits and genital areas. This is usually a sign of prediabetes, which is medically known as acanthosis nigricans.

2. Recurrent boils

So, diabetes does not directly cause boils! Changes in your blood glucose levels can make you more susceptible to infections, which can take longer to heal. These boils may appear suddenly when blood sugar levels are high, and they may settle down if your blood sugar levels are under control.

3. Hard, thickening skin

Medically known as digital sclerosis, hard and thickening skin usually develops on the fingers, toes, or both. It may start on the back of your hands, and progress to the forearms and upper arms due to uncontrolled diabetes. In some cases, it can spread to the chest, shoulders and face.

4. Skin tags

Have you been noticing small growths which are of the same colour as your skin? A lot of people with high levels of blood sugar or type-2 diabetes tend to have skin tags. They are non-cancerous growths that look like a cluster of skin tissue hanging from a stalk. They are also known as acrochordons.

5. Delayed wound healing

Diabetes makes the body unable to use insulin the way it should, which leads to high blood sugar levels. This slows down wound healing. Diabetes can also trigger immunity system deficiency, poor blood circulation and make you prone to infections. Leaving wounds untreated can lead to complications, so make sure you are doing everything you can to prevent it.

6. Bedsore

Also known as pressure ulcers, bedsores occur due to prolonged pressure on the skin. They usually develop on the heels, hips, tailbone or ankles. Diabetes triggers neuropathy (nerve damage) and poor circulation, both of which can increase the risk of pressure ulcers. It is easy to not notice these, which is why you need to be on the lookout for such signs!

7. Diabetic dermopathy

Another skin sign of diabetes is diabetes-related dermopathy, a skin condition that may lead to red and brown spoke on the lower part of your legs. There is no particular treatment to get rid of this skin condition.

Caution: Make sure you contact your doctor if you notice any of these signs on your skin.