A number of common diabetes symptoms can appear on your skin, including dry and cracked skin as well as other issues.
Throughout the UK around 4.5m people are believed to be affected by the condition, but out of that figure around half a million people are believed to have the disease without knowing, which can lead to some serious health complications, particularly for those with type 2 diabetes.
The figures were issued by the Diabetes and Wellness Foundation, which also said that nine in every 10 people with diabetes have type 2, which in many cases can be prevented. Type 2 diabetes can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease or stroke, according to the NHS.
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High blood sugar can be linked to diabetes, and if you have high blood sugar for a long period of time, it can also result in permanent damage to parts of the body such as the eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood vessels.
A number of symptoms of the condition can appear on your skin. These can include specific issues, as well as dry and cracked skin.
People with diabetes may also experience yellow, reddish or brown patches on the skin, according to Diabetes.co.uk. This is a phenomenon called Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum (NLD), which affects the shins and occurs gradually.
The skin in this area can get thin and ulcerate. When it heals, NLD can leave a brownish scar. The causes of NLD are unknown, but it affects more people with type 1 diabetes. Another skin issue is what's known as Diabetic Dermopathy, also known as shin spots, the condition leaves round, raised lesions that can turn into ulcers.
Bullosis Diabeticorum are small-large nodules underneath the skin, similar to subcutaneous blisters. Again, the cause is unknown.
NHS guidance suggests you should see a GP if you experience the main symptoms of diabetes, which are:
- feeling very thirsty
- peeing more frequently than usual, particularly at night
- feeling very tired
- weight loss and loss of muscle bulk
- itching around the penis or vagina, or frequent episodes of thrush
- cuts or wounds that heal slowly
- blurred vision
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