7 skin symptoms that may signal uncontrolled diabetes

Diabetes is one the leading chronic metabolic conditions worldwide. The condition not only affects an individual's everyday life but can also be a long-term threat, leading to severe complications. High blood sugar and its signs often show up on the skin. It is important to understand these signs as they can help intervene before the condition leads to more serious issues. Here are seven skin symptoms that may signal uncontrolled diabetes.

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Shin spots or diabetic dermopathy is the most common skin condition in people with diabetes. This condition is also called spotted leg syndrome. The spots are round or oval shaped, and may be brown or reddish brown in color. These spots are generally harmless, but if these appear, it is important to get blood sugar levels tested. Because these spots are often brown and cause no symptoms like itch or pain, many people mistake them for age spots.

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According to Frontiers, prolonged high blood sugar can lead to abnormal collagen accumulation, loss of elasticity and thickened skin structure. Medically this condition is called scleredema diabeticorum, and it often develops on the upper back, shoulders or neck. This condition is considered more of a cosmetic concern as it is painless.

Diabetes affects the wound healing ability of the body. Having high blood sugar for a long time can lead to poor circulation and nerve damage. Poor circulation and nerve damage can make it hard for the body to heal wounds, especially on the feet. The open wounds are called diabetic ulcers. If not addressed properly, these wounds can even lead to amputation.

An outbreak of small bumps on the skin is also a red flag. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause extremely high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat that circulates in the blood. First the bumps may appear, and soon they develop into a yellowish color in lighter skin tones. These bumps are most common on the highs, knees, or elbows, and can even be itchy. Evidence suggests that once diabetes is well-controlled, these bumps tend to go away.

Darkened patches on skin, especially around the neck, on the armpit, groin, could be a sign of diabetes and even prediabetes. This condition is referred to as acanthosis nigricans, and is strongly linked to insulin resistance. As per NIH, this skin condition is rarely a sign of internal malignancy.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, yellowish, smooth bumps or patches on and around your eyelids, can develop when an individual has high levels of fat in your blood. The medical name for these patches is xanthelasma.
According to PMC, individuals with eyelid lesions had significant lipid abnormalities like high cholesterol and triglycerides.

Skin tags can sometimes be harmless growths that can appear on the skin. In some cases these may be harmless, but having a lot of them, especially near the eyelids, neck, armpit and groin, can be a sign of type 2 diabetes. Medically these skin tags are called acrochordons. Studies suggest that diabetes risk was higher on people with skin tags than those without.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and should not be considered professional medical advice or treatment.