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Cutaneous Manifestations of Diabetes Mellitus: A Review

Ana Luiza Lima1, Tanja Illing1, Sibylle Schliemann1

  • 1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Jena, Erfurter Straße 35, 07740, Jena, Germany.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology
|April 5, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Skin conditions are common in diabetes mellitus, affecting one-third of patients and often appearing before diagnosis. Recognizing these dermatologic manifestations is key for early diabetes detection and management.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Dermatology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Diabetes mellitus is a global endocrine disorder with significant health system impact.
  • Hyperglycemia damages various cell types, including skin cells like keratinocytes and fibroblasts.
  • Dermatologic manifestations affect approximately one-third of individuals with diabetes, often preceding diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the spectrum of dermatologic manifestations in diabetes mellitus.
  • To highlight the role of skin conditions in the early diagnosis of diabetes.
  • To discuss the impact of diabetic neuropathy, angiopathy, and antidiabetic therapies on skin health.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of noninfectious and infectious skin diseases associated with diabetes.
  • Analysis of how diabetic complications (neuropathy, angiopathy) manifest in the skin.
  • Examination of dermatologic adverse events related to antidiabetic treatments (insulin, oral agents).

Main Results:

  • Common noninfectious skin diseases include pruritus, necrobiosis lipoidica, scleredema adultorum, and granuloma annulare.
  • Increased frequency of bacterial and fungal skin infections in diabetic patients.
  • Diabetic neuropathy and angiopathy contribute to conditions like diabetic foot syndrome and dermopathy.
  • Antidiabetic therapies can cause local reactions (insulin) or systemic events (oral agents).

Conclusions:

  • Skin disorders are significant indicators for the initial diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.
  • Dermatologic manifestations provide crucial insights for effective diabetes management and therapy.
  • Comprehensive understanding of skin conditions aids in both diagnosing and treating diabetes and its complications.

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