Skin conditions such as skin sores or a leg rash will occur in around a third of people with diabetes. In fact, certain skin symptoms can be warning signs of diabetes in those who are undiagnosed, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The good news is that if they're detected early, most skin conditions with diabetes can be quickly avoided or treated.

It's time to speak with your doctor if you find any of the above warning signs on your face.

Hard, thickening skin

Once this develops on the fingers, toes, or both, the medical term for this disease is digital sclerosis. You'll find tight, waxy skin on the back of your hands. It may become rigid and painful to lift the fingers. If diabetes has been poorly regulated for years, your fingertips may feel like you've got pebbles.

Skin that appears hard, heavy, and swollen will spread, showing on the forearms and upper arms. It may develop on the upper back, shoulders, and neck as well. The thickening of the skin extends to the face, shoulders, and chest occasionally. In rare instances, the skin often thickens over the knees, thighs, or elbows, making it impossible for your leg to straighten, point your foot, or bend your shoulder. The thickened skin also has the appearance of an orange peel everywhere it appears.

Blisters

It is rare, but sometimes blisters (bullosis diabeticorum) occur in individuals with diabetes. On the back of the fingertips, elbows, toes, feet, and occasionally on the legs or forearms, blisters happen. Burn blisters resemble these skin sores. Having diabetic neuropathy places you at greater risk for these blisters to grow. Here's the good news: After a matter of weeks, they are usually painless and recover on their own. The best cure for this diabetic skin condition is to keep blood glucose under check.

Shin spots

This condition of the skin produces spots (and sometimes lines) that develop a depression in the skin that is scarcely visible. It's predominant in people with diabetes. Diabetic dermopathy is its medical name. Usually, it forms on the shins. You'll find it on the arms, thighs, trunk, or other parts of the body in extreme instances.

Darker region that feels velvety

In body folds, Acanthosis nigricans causes skin issues and turns the skin ridges black, thick, and velvety. This skin condition with diabetes normally occurs in persons who are very overweight. There's no solution, but losing weight might enhance the look of the face. Speak to the doctor if you have a skin condition and haven't been diagnosed with diabetes. In general, Acanthosis nigricans occurs before diabetes hits.

Keeping proper blood sugar ( glucose) under control will keep skin complications with diabetes and many other signs of diabetes from arising in the first place.