Type 2 diabetes can be a 'devastating diagnosis' says expert

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High blood sugar levels are a hallmark of diabetes and pose the biggest threat to overall health. The longer they are left untamed, the greater damage they inflict on nerves. Fortunately, the condition can still be reversed in the initial stages. The way your hands wrinkle when submerged underwater could be a sign that action needs to be taken.

Diabetes is associated with a wide variety of manifestations that can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life.

Problems are often concentrated in the hands and feet because too much glucose affects the function of nerves.

Some of the first signs include a tingling sensation or numbness in the extremities, but symptoms may present in the appearance of fingers too.

This was illustrated in one study on diabetics who were asked to submerge their hands in water.

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“Skin wrinkling, which may be dependent on peripheral autonomic innervation, was assessed in 100 normal and 42 diabetic subjects using temperature-controlled water bath with the immersion of the hands for 30 minutes,” explained the researchers.

“Markedly decreased skin wrinkling was observed in diabetic subjects and in manual workers but did not correlate with cardiovascular tests of autonomic function, control, type or duration of diabetes or diabetic complications.

“The cause of decreased skin wrinkling in people with diabetes is unexplained.”

Pruney fingers in water are typically caused by shrinking blood vessels.

When the body is soaked, the nervous system sends a message to the blood vessels to shrink.

“Your body responds by sending blood away from the area, and the loss of blood volumes makes your vessels thinner,” explains WebMD.

“The skin folds in over them, and this causes wrinkles.”

It remains unclear why this happens, but scientists have suggested it’s probably to allow hands to have a better grip.

How to prevent diabetes

Lowering the risk of diabetes can be done in a number of ways, but diet and exercise are both key.

Losing weight if you are overweight is essential because overweight individuals have a seven-fold greater risk of getting diabetes.

Experts recommend such individuals lose between seven and 10 percent of their body weight to decrease their risk.

Exercise can also be helpful as it may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by 30 percent when undertaken regularly.

Research also shows it can help lower blood sugar for up to 24 hours or more after a workout.

Finally, avoiding certain foods that consist of simple carbohydrates or are sugar-sweetened is imperative for blood sugar control.

“Eat a wide range of foods – including fruit, vegetables and some starchy foods like pasta,” recommends the NHS.

“Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every day – do not skip meals.”

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