Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a metabolic disorder characterized by blood sugar levels that remain higher than normal. When a person has diabetes, their body cannot properly metabolize carbohydrates from daily food intake to produce energy. Over time, this leads to an increasing accumulation of sugar in the bloodstream.

Consistently high blood sugar levels increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cause damage to many other organs such as the nerves, eyes, kidneys, and various other serious health problems.

Neck Signs That May Warn of Diabetes

Recently, an American doctor emphasized a body area you might not usually think about when it comes to diabetes symptoms.

Dermatologist Muneed Shah, currently practicing in the U.S., used his TikTok channel to warn about a lesser-known sign of diabetes: darkened skin on the neck.

Dark skin on the neck doesn’t always mean it is dirty. According to Dr. Shah, one possible cause behind this discoloration is a condition called acanthosis nigricans.

Acanthosis nigricans is a phenomenon where the skin becomes darker, often occurring in skin folds. (Illustrative image)

This pigmentation has indistinct borders and can also make the skin feel thicker.

Although this discoloration can appear anywhere on the body, it most often occurs on the back of the neck, underarms, and groin.

Dr. Shah further explained that some causes of acanthosis nigricans include diabetes and insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body stops responding properly to insulin because of excessive carbohydrates in the diet. The concerning part is that insulin resistance can “set the stage” for prediabetes and eventually full-blown diabetes.

Other Signs of Diabetes

While darkened skin on the neck may signal high blood sugar and other underlying issues, Dr. Shah noted that genetics can also play a role in the development of this condition.

Here are some other common symptoms of diabetes:

• Frequent urination (often at night)

• Feeling very thirsty

• Unexplained weight loss

• Feeling very hungry

• Blurred vision

• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet

• Feeling very tired

• Very dry skin

• Slow-healing wounds

• More frequent infections than usual

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) advises seeing a doctor “as soon as possible” if you experience the main symptoms of diabetes.

Dr. Shah added that treating acanthosis nigricans involves managing diabetes.

However, there are also other remedies. He noted: “Using exfoliating agents to soften the skin, such as lactic acid (Amlactin), can help. Retinoid forms like adapalene are also effective.”