Millions of people across the world suffer from type 2 diabetes, which causes a person's blood sugar levels to run high.
When this happens, it can have numerous affects on the body - the most common ones being an increased thirst and needing to urinate more often.
However, early symptoms can also appear in a person's skin, causing it to become itchy, dry and cracked, and people are being urged to be aware of this sign.
The Mirror reports that feet, hands and elbows are likely to be affected by damaged skin when a person has diabetes.
Here's why this happens, and how to combat it before the illness gets too serious and puts you at risk of amputation.
Dry, itchy and cracked skin
If you've been diagnosed with diabetes, you're more likely to develop damaged skin.
This is because of high sugar levels in the body, which draws out moisture to help repair the process - resulting in itchy dry skin particularly on your elbows, feet, knees and hands.
"In time, high glucose levels also can damage nerves," added WebMD.
This is called diabetic neuropathy, which could make it more difficult for a person to feel cuts, wounds, or infections.
Diabetes.co.uk explains: "People with diabetes may experience greater loss of fluid from the body due to high blood glucose levels, which can cause dry skin on the legs, elbows, feet and other areas of the body."
The site added: "If dry skin becomes cracked, germs can get into these areas and cause infection, meaning that taking care of the skin is essential.
"If not checked regularly, even minor skin care problems can evolve into serious diabetes complications, such as diabetic foot ulcers and even amputation."
Research published in the American Diabetes Association went into more depth about itching being a symptom.
The research analysed 2,656 people with diabetes, and 499 without.
It found that itching was a common symptom, affecting about 11.3% of those with diabetes compared to only 2.9% of those who didn’t have the condition.
Other skin conditions caused by type 2 diabetes
Some other skin problems that can happen as a result of type 2 diabetes include:
- A bacterial infection
- Fungal infection
- Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD) - an inflammatory condition
- Diabetic blisters
- Eruptive xanthomatosis – yellow, pea-like bumps
- Disseminated granuloma annulare – ring or raised-arched like areas
How to relieve dry, itchy skin
Dermatologists say that there are a number of ways we can soothe our skin if it's damaged, and prevent it from happening in the first place.
These include:
- Moisturising everyday
- Using a gentle cleanser when bathing/showering
- Drying the folds of your skin carefully
- Getting medical care for calluses on your feet
- Seeking immediate medical care for a skin or nail infection
- Treating cuts or wounds immediately
- Keeping toenails short
You should speak to a GP if you think you might have type 2 diabetes, as they will be able to diagnose it following a blood test.
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