Ask Dr Chris: Bad skin and diabetes

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Every week we partner up with our sister magazine, Woman, to bring you expert health advice from This Morning's Dr Chris Steele MBE, health journalist of the year. This week he answers your questions about scarring and hayfever.

The problem: 'I've got terrible skin'

I'm a 38-year-old woman with chronic acne. I've tried everything - cutting out oily foods, drinking more water, face washes and so on. What can you recommend?

The solution

I believe that any woman with acne over the age of 25 has Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) until proven otherwise. Ask your GP to get you investigated. PCOS causes absent or infrequent periods, excess hair growth (especially facial), obesity, infertility and acne, so explore this option first.

The problem: 'What do diabetics eat?'

My son, who's eight, has just been diagnosed with diabetes. I'm confused about what foods I should feed him, and what to avoid - can you help?

The solution

Unfortunately, I can't give that advice in a few lines. Diabetes is a condition in which glucose levels in the blood are too high because the body can't make enough - or any - insulin, the hormone which controls these levels. Glucose comes from digesting starchy foods, so his diet is vital to the control of his diabetes. Ask your GP to refer you to dieticians who specialise in diabetes. You can also find some healthy, balanced recipes at www.diabetes.org.uk.