Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Diabetes can affect many parts of the body, including the skin. Someone who has type 2 diabetes can experience skin problems, including blackened skin in certain areas, such as the neck and armpits.

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic condition that causes glucose-related disorders in the body. This is caused by the body experiencing insulin-related disorders resulting in high blood sugar levels.

The following are signs of diabetes on the skin that you should watch out for, according to the American Academy of Dermatology:

1. Spots on the shins

This skin condition is common in diabetes sufferers. The medical name for shin spots is diabetic dermopathy. You may also hear people refer to this condition as spotted foot syndrome.

When this condition begins, you usually see round or oval spots, which often appear on the shins and are brown or reddish brown.

At first, these spots often feel scaly. If it is flat, it can cause small dents in the skin.

Unlike age spots, these spots often begin to fade once diabetes is well controlled, usually within 18 to 24 months. Diabetic dermopathy can also remain on the skin indefinitely.

Although these spots are not dangerous, anyone who develops them and has not been diagnosed with diabetes should get tested.

Some people who suffer from diabetes and dry spots have a higher risk of diabetes complications such as neuropathy, which is nerve damage that can cause weakness, numbness, and pain.

2. Areas of skin that are darker and feel like velvet

Photo: Signs on the skin if you have diabetes. (Doc. https://www.aad.org/)

Dark patches of velvety skin on your neck, armpits, groin, or elsewhere could mean you have too much insulin in your blood. This is often a sign of pre-diabetes. The medical name for this skin disease is acanthosis nigricans.

3. Hard and thickened skin

If you have diabetes, hard, thick, swollen-looking skin may develop, even if the diabetes is well controlled. The medical name for this condition is scleredema diabetesorum.

Often developing on the upper back, the skin thickens and tightens slowly over months or years. This condition can also occur in the shoulders, neck, or elsewhere, but never occurs in the hands or feet.

4. Open wounds

Having high blood sugar (glucose) for a long time can cause poor circulation and nerve damage. You may have this disease if you have had uncontrolled (or poorly controlled) diabetes for a long time.

Poor circulation and nerve damage can make it difficult for your body to heal wounds. This is especially true of the feet. Open sores are called diabetic ulcers.

5. The appearance of small lumps

Photo: Signs on the skin if you have diabetes. (Doc. https://www.aad.org/)

Uncontrolled diabetes can cause very high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat that circulates in the blood. If this happens, you could develop a skin condition called eruptive xanthomatosis.

Once the lump appears, it immediately turns yellowish with a lighter skin tone. If you have a darker skin tone, you may notice a grayish tint with a yellowish undertone.

Usually these lumps appear on the buttocks, thighs, crook of the elbow, or knee. Wherever it forms, it usually feels painful and itchy.

6. Smooth colored lumps or spots

yellowness around the eyelidsThese lumps and patches appear when you have high levels of fat in your blood, which can be a sign that you have uncontrolled diabetes. The medical name for this condition is xanthelasma.

Regardless of your skin color, these bumps and patches appear yellowish or yellowish-orange in color.

7. Infection

Diabetes weakens your immune system, which reduces your body’s ability to fight harmful germs and increases your risk of developing infections. Fungal infections such as thrush and vaginal yeast infections often occur.

8. Warts or skin tags in the eyes

Photo: Signs on the skin if you have diabetes. (Doc. https://www.aad.org/)

Many people have warts, which are harmless growths that can appear anywhere on the skin. Sometimes, skin tags stick tightly to the skin.

Although warts can develop anywhere on the skin, they most often occur on the eyelids, neck, armpits, and groin.

9. A collection of small bumps or raised patches

Whether this skin condition is related to diabetes is controversial. We know that most people who suffer from granuloma annulare do not have diabetes.

However, several studies have found that this skin condition occurs in patients with diabetes. One study found that people with diabetes are more likely to have granuloma annulare over large areas of skin and the lumps come and go.

Another study concluded that people who suffer from granuloma annulare that comes and goes should be tested for diabetes.

10. Yellow, reddish, brown, or purplish patches on your skin

When this condition begins, you will often see one or more reddish-brown spots on your shins if you have lighter skin tone. People with darker skin tones often see purplish spots. These spots are not itchy or painful. The medical name for this condition is necrobiosis lipoidica.

These spots grow slowly, becoming one or more patches that may be yellow, reddish, brown, or purplish. In the center, you may see thinning waxy skin, blood vessels, or both.

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