Diabetes is a common condition that affects about 3.7 million people in the UK.
It’s caused by the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the body not reacting to insulin.
Without enough of the hormone, the body struggles to convert sugar in the blood into useable energy.
You could be at risk of type 2 diabetes if you have these “unusual” warning signs.
Developing a dark patch of skin on the back of the neck could be a symptom of diabetes.
The patch may simply appear like a piece of dirt, but it could actually be a sign of poor insulin resistance.
Look out for a ring of dark skin that appears almost velvety along body creases.
The condition, known as acanthosis nigricans, could also be a sign of obesity or even cancer.
But, you could also be at risk of diabetes if you have blurred vision, added medical website Everyday Health.
“If you’re having trouble reading street signs, your glasses may not be the problem,” it said.
“Although later-stage diabetes can cause permanent eye damage, or retinopathy, blurry vision that arises in the early stages of the disease may be reversible.
“A person with diabetes may experience blurred vision because of fluid level fluctuations that cause the eye to swell.”
Having a cut or wound that takes longer to heal than normal could also be a sign of high blood sugar.
High blood sugar reduces the amount of oxygen that’s sent to heal wounds.
That slows down the healing process, and lowers the immune system, it warned.
Many people have diabetes without even realising it because the symptoms can be easily confused for other medical conditions.
People over 40 years old are most at risk of diabetes, along with people that are overweight.
Diagnosing the condition early is crucial, as patients are more at risk of some deadly complications.
Some of the most common diabetes symptoms include passing more urine than normal and feeling excessively tired all of the time.
Speak to a doctor if you’re worried about the signs of diabetes, or if you think you may be at risk.