Obesity rates have been on the rise over the last decade. In fact, there are more and more cases of children and teenagers being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes than ever.
14-year-old Pantera learned this the hard way when she began to notice the following changes in her health:
- She was thirsty all the time.
- She suffered from headaches and mood swings.
- And last but not least, she had a dark-colored ring around her neck.
According to Alyne Ricker, MD, pediatric endocrinologist at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, “when your body starts pumping out too much insulin—which is common with type 2—receptors in the skin folds respond by making extra pigment.”
This dark pigmentation — known as “acanthosis nigricans” — can also be found under the arms, between the legs, between fingers and toes, or on elbows and knees.
Doctors say that if you see this ring, then there’s a really good chance that your insulin isn’t working optimally.
And if you’re insulin isn’t working smoothly, then you have higher chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
Watch the video below to see what this dark ring looks like…
