Discolored Skin & Diabetes

Diabetes affects each part of your body, including your skin. "Up to 33 percent of diabetics will have a skin disorder that is either caused by diabetes, or affected by diabetes, at some point in their lives," according to the American Diabetes Association. If skin disorders can be caught at an early stage, most disorders can be resolved.

Identification

• People who suffer from diabetes are unable to convert the glucose in their food to energy. This glucose builds up in the bloodstream, where it can cause heart and kidney damage, as well as damage to the eyes, skin and nerves.

Conditions

• Diabetic dermopathy causes scaly light-brown or red patches to form on the front of your legs, but since the patches don't cause pain, blister or itch, treatment is not usually necessary. A fungal infection called athlete's foot causes the skin on your feet to turn red, crack and itch. These cracks in your skin allow germs to enter, causing an infection. If you're taking insulin or oral medication, you can develop an allergic skin reaction in response to the medication. Watch for rashes, depressions or raised areas at the insulin injection site.

Complications

• Because of poor blood flow to the feet, diabetics with fungal infections can develop gangrene and tissue death due to lack of blood. Your doctor may have to amputate your foot or toe to keep gangrene from spreading. Ingrown toenails cause your toenail to grow into your skin, causing pain and pressure along the toenail edge, resulting in pain, redness, swelling and infection. In a diabetic who may have poor circulation to the feet, untreated infection from an ingrown toenail can progress, and amputation of a foot or limb may be necessary. Causes of ingrown toenail include nails that are not properly trimmed; trauma from running, walking or other aerobics; and shoes that don't have enough room for your toes.

Treatment

• See your doctor if you notice any areas of discolored skin. He may prescribe an over-the-counter or prescription medication to improve the appearance of your skin and to control infection. If you've developed a serious infection that doesn't respond to medication, you may be hospitalized and given IV medication.

Prevention

• Maintaining a healthy weight will help keep blood sugar levels under control and prevent discolored skin. Visit your doctor at regular intervals, even when you're not ill, so that you can be checked for early signs of complications. Check feet daily for swelling, redness or sores, and moisturize with a skin cream or lotion. Trim your toenails straight across, and file the edges. If your vision is poor, have a podiatrist trim your nails.