A Cross Sectional Study of Cutaneous Manifestations in 100 Patients of Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background and objectives: ABSTRACT Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a worldwide problem and the most common endocrine disorder. The skin is affected by both the acute metabolic derangements and the chronic degenerative complications of diabetes The objectives of the study was to analyze the clinical pattern of cutaneous manifestations in patients of Diabetes Mellitus, to study the relation of these cutaneous manifestations with demographic data like age, sex and duration of Diabetes and to compare the cutaneous manifestations in controlled and uncontrolled Diabetes. Materials and Methods: The present study was a one-year cross sectional study from January 2010 to December 2010. All confirmed cases of Diabetes Mellitus with cutaneous manifestations irrespective of age, sex, duration of illness and associated diseases, willing to participate in the study were included in the study. Routine haematological and urine investigations, FBS, RBS and HbA1c levels were carried out in all patients. Results: A total of 100 patients of diabetes mellitus with cutaneous manifestations were studied. Majority belonged to the 5 th XI decade (33%) and 4 th decade (27%) respectively. Males constituted 69% of the cases and male to female ratio was 2.2:1.Type 2 DM was most commonly observed ( 96%) as compared to Type 1 DM (4%). Among the 100 diabetic patients, 22 patients (22%) had moderate control of DM with HbA1c levels in the range of 7.1%-8%, while 63 patients (63%) had a poor control of DM with HbA1c levels >8%. Hypertension was the most commonly associated systemic illness (46%). Cutaneous infections (62%) were the most commonly observed manifestation of which fungal infections (37%) were most frequently observed. Some of the other dermatoses observed were generalized pruritus (23%), acrochrodons (8%), diabetic dermopathy (7%), peripheral vascular disease (4%), diabetic foot (4%), vitiligo (4%) xanthelasma palpebrerum(2%) diabetic bullae (1%) and macular amyloidosis(1%). Cutaneous infections, dermatoses associated with microangiopathy, metabolic diseases and cutaneous reactions to diabetic therapy were more common in the uncontrolled diabetic patients which was meaningfully significant. Conclusion: Infections were the most common cutaneous manifestations in diabetics, followed by dermatoses most commonly associated with diabetes. Proper skin care and long-term control of blood glucose levels may reduce the risk of some of the skin lesions in diabetic subjects.