Several doctors are warning of a skin condition that could indicate that your diet may be too high in sugar, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
According to the 2024 National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2021 data found that 38.4 million Americans of all ages had diabetes, and 90 to 95 percent of them had type 2 diabetes. Another 8.7 million adults ages 18 and older met the criteria for diabetes but did not know it or did not report having it.
Type 2 diabetes is a common disease that occurs when “the body cannot use insulin properly and sugar builds up in the blood,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
However, “high insulin levels usually don't cause symptoms that can be felt right away, and that's what makes it complicated,” said Sleepopolis Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD. Parade.
An important, yet often overlooked, sign that your body is fighting high glucose levels is the development of acanthosis nigricans (dark spots on the skin).
These patches are most likely to develop on the skin of the back of the neck, armpits, groin area, and under the breasts.
While there are other causes of acanthosis nigricans, including genetics and, in rare cases, cancer, increased insulin levels are one of the most common contributors.
“Eating too much sugar increases blood sugar levels, which causes a surge of insulin to lower those levels,” Dr. Samantha Brand, DipABOM, further explained to the publication. “Insulin also activates certain skin cells that have insulin receptors.”
He added: “When insulin levels are persistently high (in people with insulin resistance or prediabetes) both melanocytes and keratinocytes can be overstimulated, leading to increased production of melanin and keratin.
“This results in thick, dark, velvety patches of skin, called acanthosis nigricans.”
It is important to note that prediabetes, the stage before type 2 diabetes, can often be reversed. If you are concerned about your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, there are several key lifestyle changes you can implement, including regular exercise, reducing your consumption of processed foods, managing stress levels and losing weight.
Still, if you develop type 2 diabetes, it is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle to help manage symptoms and prevent additional complications.
Although type 2 is also commonly believed to be reversible, “remission” is the more accurate term.
“Type 2 diabetes remission occurs when long-term blood sugar levels fall below the diabetes level and stay there for at least three months, without the need for glucose-lowering medications. By bringing blood sugar levels to a long-term non-diabetes range, diabetes symptoms and any new damage it may cause to your body are stopped,” said Natasha Marsland, consultant. Diabetes UK main clinic. Press Association in 2024.
“Remission doesn't mean your diabetes is gone forever, as your blood sugar levels can rise again, and we don't call it 'reversing type 2 diabetes' because remission is not a cure for type 2 diabetes. You still need to attend regular checkups and get the support you need to treat or manage any existing complications.”
