Diabetes is a serious and life-changing medical condition that causes your blood sugar levels to become too high.
There are two types of diabetes – type 1 and type 2. It is not exactly known what causes type 1, although it is thought to be triggered by an autoimmune reaction.
Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 – accounting for around 90 percent of cases.
Typically it is linked to factors such as not exercising enough and being overweight but it can also be genetic.
Like any medical condition, the sooner you spot the signs of type 2 diabetes the sooner you can get the treatment you need.
Classic symptoms of type 2 diabetes include things like increased thirst, needing to urinate more often than usual, fatigue and weight loss.
However, one expert shared a lesser-known sign that can appear on the skin.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Doctor Gill Jenkins – a GP and advisor to Excilor, warned of skin tags.
She explained: “A skin tag is a small growth of epidermal and dermal tissue, ranging from one to several millimetres in size.”
According to Dr Jenkins these are most commonly found in skin folds including:
- On the neck
- Under the breasts
- Around the armpit
- Around the groin.
“Skin tags are soft flesh-coloured growths standing out from the skin surface on a small stalk,” she said.
Dr Jenkins explained the link between skin tags and diabetes.
She said: “Skin tags can be a sign of diabetes because it’s thought that high blood sugar can be a contributing factor to their growth.
“High blood sugar is a sign of diabetes and may be caused by insulin resistance which results in the body’s cells failing to remove sugar from the blood because the cells are resistant to the action of insulin.
“Insulin resistance may cause high blood levels of both insulin and glucose and the metabolic disorders that result.”
The NHS says that the cause of skin tags is not always known, “but they are sometimes caused by skin rubbing against skin”.
However, it says you are more likely to develop them if:
- You’re living with obesity or have skin folds that rub together
- You have type 2 diabetes, because severe insulin resistance is thought to cause more skin tags to grow
- You’re pregnant, as hormonal changes are thought to cause skin tag growth.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association also lists skin tags as a possible sign of diabetes.
“While harmless, having numerous skin tags may be a sign that you have too much insulin in your blood or type 2 diabetes,” it says.
What to do if you notice a skin tag
If you are concerned about a skin tag, or notice other symptoms of diabetes you should speak to your GP.
Dr Jenkins added: “If you aren’t bothered by the way the skin tag looks and it doesn’t hurt, then your skin tag may not need treatment as they are not dangerous.
“However, if they change colour, bleed, itch or ooze pus you should talk to your doctor.
“Skin tags can also be removed privately by ligation (tying off) and other approaches but treatments are unlikely to be available on the NHS.
“If you have a number of skin tags it is worth getting them checked by your GP and having a test for diabetes.”