Insulin resistanceWhen the body's cells stop responding properly to insulin, so the pancreas must make more and more of it to keep blood sugar normal.
Acanthosis nigricans
Pronounced ak-an-THOH-sis NIG-ri-kanz
Dark, velvety thickening of the skin, usually at the back of the neck, armpits or groin. It is a visible sign of insulin resistance.
It is often mistaken for dirt that will not wash off, and children are sometimes scolded for it. It is not dirt — it is skin responding to high circulating .
Its value is that it is visible. In a young person it is often the first clue to years before blood sugar rises, and it is a clear reason to test.
It fades as insulin resistance improves with weight loss and activity.
Related terms
- PrediabetesBorderline diabetes, Impaired glucose toleranceBlood sugar that is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be called diabetes. It usually causes no symptoms at all, and it can often be reversed.
- Metabolic syndromeSyndrome X, Insulin resistance syndromeA cluster of findings — abdominal weight, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and abnormal cholesterol — that together sharply raise the risk of diabetes and heart disease.