Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the very common endocrine disorder, which affects all ages and socioeconomic groups. In the year 2000, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes globally 171 million which is projected to be 366 million in the year 2030.  The incidence and prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing, especially so in recently urbanized and developing countries, including India. According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the number of diabetic subjects in India is around 61. million and this is further set to increase 101.2 million by the year 2030.  It is characterized by hyperglycemia secondary to absolute or relative insulin deficiency. This hyperglycemia results in the generation of advanced glycation end products, which in turn responsible for the diabetic complications such as macrovascular and microvascular complications.  Globally, the prevalence of skin disorders in diabetes mellitus may veries from 51.1% to 97%.  Multiple factors contributes to the onset of cutaneous manifestations in diabetes mellitus, which include abnormal carbohydrate metabolism, altered metabolic pathways, vascular abnormalities such as microangiopathy, atherosclerosis, neuronal degeneration, and impaired host mechanisms.  The dermatological manifestations in diabetes mellitus may vary from minor to lifethreatening.  Dermatological manifestations of diabetes mellitus can be broadly categorized into four groups; skin lesions strongly associated with diabetes, skin lesions of infectious etiology, lesions secondary to complications of diabetes and lesions related to diabetic treatment.  The most common cutaneous infections, staphylococcal infections, are more perilous and severe in patients with uncontrolled diabetes. Other types of infection include styes that cause tuberculosis of eyelid and also bacterial infection of the nails. A fungus called Candida albicans is involved in the numerous fungal infections in diabetic patients and these are common in vaginal area and lips corners (angular cheilitis).  In addition, skin disorders commonly associated with diabetes, which as diabetic dermopathy, necrobiosis lipoidica, diabetic bullae, diabetic thick skin, yellow skin, acanthosis nigricans, eruptive xanthomas, disseminated granuloma annulare, scleredema, yellow nails, skin tags, diabetic rubeosis, vitiligo and lichen planus.  Commonly seen cutaneous bacterial infections in diabetes mellitus are folliculitis, furunculosis, carbuncle, ecthyma, cellulitis and erysipelas. Other associated disorders are calciphylaxis, xerosis, xanthelasma, lipodystrophy, macular amyloidosis and alopecia.  Commonly seen viral infections include herpes zoster and viral warts.

Regards,

Jessica

Managing editor

Pancreatic disorder and therapy