A health expert has revealed little-known signs that your body could be on the path to type two diabetes and what to do about it.
Dr. Marla Jirakeducator and doctoral researcher in health, stress management and behavior change, took to TikTok to list symptoms that could indicate a prediabetic body.
The US health advisor broke down the science-backed signs, including dark spots on the skin, skin tags and “oily” necks.
“These 90 seconds could probably save many people’s lives,” he said.
While a larger than average waist is the symptom most are familiar with, Dr. Jirak said it is just one of many changes in the body that can occur before a diabetes diagnosis.
Dark spots are a lesser-known sign that something is wrong. They often appear suddenly on the neck or under the arms.
These patches, based on the examples you shared, look ultra-tanned and have a slightly different texture.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), they also occur in skin folds, so they can also include the groin, arms, and knees.
Dr. Marla Jirak, a doctoral educator and researcher in health, stress management, and behavior change, took to TikTok to list symptoms that could indicate a prediabetic body.
Tags on the skin can also indicate a possible diagnosis of diabetes, especially those found around the neck or on the eyelids.
Skin tags are small raised bumps that are usually the same color as the skin. They can be distinguished from other skin abnormalities by the “stalks” to which they are attached.
The next thing to consider, according to Dr. Marla, is your waist size.
A waist size greater than 101 cm is a red flag for men, while a measurement greater than 89 cm leaves women at greater risk.
Interestingly, swollen feet are also a symptom that most ignore, especially as they age.
This symptom indicates fluid retention, which can be a sign of poor circulation and uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
Perhaps the most interesting symptom Dr. Jirak mentioned is a “fat neck” that often causes discomfort when sleeping.
“Fat necks”, also called insulin necks, are those with a circumference of more than 37 cm in men and 34 cm in women.
Tags on the skin can also indicate a possible diagnosis of diabetes, especially those found around the neck or on the eyelids.
A neck with insulin “is not just fat.” You can spot it by looking at the back of someone’s neck and it will usually appear as an obvious roll with deep lines and grooves.
Those who are on the path to developing diabetes may also suffer from sleep apnea.
“Flabby” arms and a hump on the back of the neck are two more signs that you are at risk.
High blood glucose levels due to a sugary diet can lead to a decrease in testosterone levels, which can lead to loss of muscle mass and lead to “flaggier” arms than usual.
Flabby arms are not always related to diabetes, they can also be due to hormones, aging and genes.
Finally if you touch your stomach and it is hard and dense then you could have a problem. This may indicate that your body is in “fat storage mode” and insulin resistance.
While Dr. Jirak is not a doctor, she has studied health extensively and has found that many of these symptoms can be attributed to high blood sugar.
“Our bloodstream should only contain one teaspoon of sugar at a time,” he warned.
“But modern food and environment mean we often have much more than that.”
She says many problems can be solved by changing your diet, increasing fiber and decreasing sugar-rich foods, but as always, it’s best to talk to a doctor and get regular tests if something seems wrong.