Skin diseases seen in diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus [DM] is the most common endocrine disorder, expected to affect 5.4% of the world population by the year 2025. DM is characterized by high serum glucose levels and by disturbances of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and resultant long term systemic complications. DM has replaced syphilis of pre-antibiotic days as the great clinical imitator with a wide array of signs and symptoms affecting every organ of the body. The incidence of cutaneous disorders in diabetic patients varies between 30% and 71% according to different authors. Cutaneous manifestations of DM generally appear subsequent to the development of the disease, but may be the first presenting signs or may even precede the primary disease manifestations by many years in some diabetics. We provide a concise review of the various dermatologic disorders encountered in diabetic patients