Dr Marla Jirak, a PhD educator and researcher in health, stress management and behavior change, took to TikTok to list symptoms that could indicate a pre-diabetic body
The Little-Known Signs Your Body Is Heading for Diabetes
A health expert has revealed little-known signs your body could be headed for type two diabetes and what to do about it.
Dr Marla Jirak , a PhD educator and researcher in health, stress management and behaviour change, took to TikTok to list symptoms that could indicate a pre-diabetic body.
The American health coach broke down the science-backed signs, which include dark patches of skin, skin tags and 'fatty' necks.
'These 90 seconds can probably save a lot of people's lives,' she said.
While a larger than average waistline is the symptom most are aware of, Dr Jirak said it's just one of many changes to the body that can happen before a diabetes diagnosis.
Dark patches are a lesser-known signal something is off. They often occur suddenly on the neck or under the arms.
These patches, according to the examples she shared, look ultra-tanned and have a slightly different texture.
According to the Center for Disease Control ( CDC ) they also occur where the skin folds, so can also include the groin, arms, and knees.
Skin tags can also indicate a potential diabetes diagnosis - especially those around the neck or on the eyelids.
Skin tags are little raised bumps that are usually the same color as your skin. They can be distinguished from other skin abnormalities by the 'stalks' they are attached to.
The next thing to consider, according to Dr Marla, is the size of your waistline.
A waistline more than 101cm is a red flag for men, while a measurement over 89cm leaves women more at risk.
Interestingly, puffy feet are also a symptom most brush off - especially as they get older.
This symptom indicates water 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' which often leads to discomfort when sleeping.
'Fat necks' - also dubbed insulin necks - are those with a circumference of more than 37cm for men and 34cm for women.
Skin tags can also indicate a potential diabetes diagnosis - especially those around the neck or on the eyelids
An insulin neck 'isn't just fat'. You can spot it by looking at the nape of someone's neck and it will typically appear as an obvious roll with deep lines and furrows.
Those on the way to developing diabetes can also suffer from sleep apnea.
'Flabby' arms and a hump on the back of the neck are two more signs you are at risk.
High blood glucose from a sugary diet can cause a decrease in testosterone levels, which can lead to muscle loss and cause 'flabbier' than usual arms.
Flabby arms are not always linked 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 can point to your body being in 'fat storage mode' and insulin resistance.
While Dr Jirak is not a medical doctor, she has studied health extensively and has found many of these symptoms can be put down to high blood sugar.
'Our bloodstream should only ever have one teaspoon of sugar in it at a time,' she warned.
'But the modern foods and environment mean we often have much more than that.'
She claims many of the issues can be fixed by tweaking your diet, increasing fiber, and decreasing sugar-rich foods but as always, it's best to speak to a doctor and get regular testing if anything seems amiss. – Daily Mail
