Diabetic Skin Complications

Diabetic mellitus is a disease in which blood-sugar levels are abnormally high. It occurs either because of absence of insulin production by the pancreas (type 1 diabetes ) or because the body cells fail to use insulin to break down glucose into energy (type 2 diabetes ).

Diabetes leads to various skin complications. Diabetes impairs skin proliferation, differentiation and glucose use by skin keratinocytes (cells). Diabetes makes the skin dehydrated as all body water gets converted into urine to flush excess glucose out of the body. It damages nerves that signal the body to sweat and keep skin moist. Dry skin breaks easily and gets infected faster.

Skin Complications of Type 1 Diabetes

• Skin complications of type 1 diabetes include:
  --Candida or yeast infections. Yeast skin infections usually affect the diabetic's mouth, skin-folds and genitals.
  --Fungal infections. Fungal infections affect the diabetic's nails, skin-folds and feet.
  --Bacterial infections. A carbuncle is a deep-rooted bacterial infection that affects the hair follicle. Cellulitis, caused by bacterial access into the skin from trauma, manifests as red, tender, hot inflammations in the leg.
  --Necrotizing fasciitis. This rare life threatening bacterial skin infection causes inflammations and blisters on the skin that are painful and hemorrhagic.
  --Necrobiosis diabeticorum. This skin complication arises on the diabetic's shins and features thin brownish skin.
  --Diabetic scleroderma. This skin infection's occurrence is limited to the area over the upper back and manifests as thickened skin.
  --Vitiligo. In this skin complication, patches of white skin occur on the body because the body destroys the skin's pigment making cells.
  --Pyoderma gangrenosa. This skin condition is seen mainly on the hand's back where the skin there becomes thick, discolored and broken.
  --Cheiroarthropathy. This condition involves thickening of the hand's skin often hampering range of finger movement.

Skin Complications of Type 2 Diabetes

• Skin complications of type 2 diabetes include:
  --Diabetic dermopathy. The skin on the shins may initially show red blister spots that turn into brown scaly patches. The condition is self-healing leaving depressed scars.
  --Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. Diseased small blood-vessels of the skin makes the shins develop skin lesions that gives the skin a yellow center enveloped by a brown border.
  --Eruptive xanthomatosis. Fats deposition into the skin due to high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the diabetic's blood causes Eruptive xanthomatosis, characterized by pin-head-like yellow lumps with red rings on the buttocks.
  --Acanthosis nigricans. The skin-folds of the armpits, neck, upper back and groin become thick, black or brownish and velvety. Obese diabetics are generally hit by this complication.
  --Bullosis diabeticorum. Diabetic blisters can occur in the hands, legs, feet, fingers and toes. These painless blisters self heal and leave no scars.

Skin Complication of the Diabetic Foot

• Gangrene can be a skin complication of the diabetic foot. Diabetes occludes the foot's big blood vessels causing tissue death and gangrene in the toes due to inadequate blood circulation. Walking becomes painful. Surgery and sometimes amputation may be needed.

Another Skin Complication of the Diabetic Foot

• Diabetic neuropathy also can be a skin complication of the diabetic foot. When diabetes damage nerves by blocking the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the nerves, the diabetic's foot becomes numb, loses pain sensations and starts to tingle and burn. Ulcers and skin sores may also form on the feet.

Averting Diabetes Skin Complications

• Keep your blood-sugar levels normal through medication and proper diabetic diets. Avoid skin trauma and cuts by wearing comfortable shoes, not going bare feet and being careful while clipping toe nails. Visit your doctor as soon as you notice scars, deep cuts, blisters or soreness on the skin for early treatment and cure. Always keep the skin hygienic and dry. The skin folds and skin between toes need special care. Drink lots of water for hydration and quit smoking to improve blood circulation.