Not enough people get their blood sugar checked often. Elevated blood sugar can do serious harm to every part of your body, especially if it continues for many years. Did you know there are some facial features that may offer clues about a person’s blood sugar level?

The following facial features may indicate elevated blood sugar, insulin resistance or pre-diabetes:

  • Chubby cheeks. People with a round face who deposit fat on their face are more likely to be insulin resistant. They are usually predisposed to carrying excess fat on their upper body and torso.
  • A double chin. This is the same explanation as the point above. People who carry fat around their neck and throat are also more likely to suffer with sleep apnea.
  • Chronically flushed cheeks. This can be an indicator of raised blood sugar. It may also indicate high blood pressure.
  • Acne vulgaris. A number of factors increase the likelihood of a person suffering with acne: zinc and vitamin A deficiency, food sensitivities and poor detox abilities of the liver. If a person over the age of 30 suffers with acne, insulin resistance and pre-diabetes are more likely.
  • Oily skin. Similar to acne, a person with insulin resistance usually secretes more sebum in their skin.
  • Puffiness under the eyes. This can be an indicator of fluid retention. Elevated blood sugar and elevated insulin can cause the kidneys to retain salt and water, giving a person a puffy appearance.

A lot of people spend many years with elevated blood sugar, not realizing they are diabetic or pre-diabetic. If you are over the age of 35 please have a through blood test every year. Begin at age 30 if you have a family history of diabetes or if you’re overweight. The following may also be symptoms of high blood sugar:

  • Increased hunger
  • Increased thirst
  • Fatigue
  • Increased urination, particularly at night
  • Sores that do not heal
  • Infections such as thrush or skin infections such as boils or fungal skin infections
  • Blurred vision
  • Burning, numbness or tingling in the feet or hands
  • Weight loss or weight gain
  • Irritability and mood changes
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Bell’s palsy and carpal tunnel syndrome.  These conditions can both be a result of nerve damage caused by episodes of high blood sugar.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious disease. It can significantly reduce a person’s life span and their quality of life. Please have your blood sugar checked regularly. For more information see our book Diabetes Type 2: You Can Reverse It Naturally. If you already know your blood sugar is too high, I urge you to read about the benefits of the herbal extract berberine. It helps to reverse insulin resistance, and in that way can help normalize blood sugar, blood fats and make weight loss easier.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.