Background:
@EN At least 30 per cent of diabetics, which is said to comprise over 3% of general population in Korea, have one or more cutaneous complications during the course of the disease. These skin changes may be the consequences of microangiopathy,
arteriosclerosis, direct metabolic disturbances and/or the sequelae of chronic therapy.
@ES Objective:
@EN We tried to observe certain cutaneous and nail changes in diabetics and to relate them with systemic complications, blood sugar level and duration of diabetes.
@ES Methods:
@EN During the period of 12 months from March, 1992 to February, 1993, a total of 1858 outpatients diagnosed as diabetes mellitus at Eulji General Hospital were examined.
@ES Results:
@EN The cutaneous manifestations are observed in 79.5% of diabetics examined and cutaneous infections are the most prevalent(52.3%). Pruritus(p<0.01), anogenital pruritus(p<).01), peripheral dedema(p<0.05) are more common in females and
infections,
shin
spots, finger pebbles(p<0.01) are more common in males. Systemic complications are observed in 50.7% and the cutaneous manifestations are observed more frequently in patients with systemic complications(p<0.05). Shin spots, diabetic foot,
peripneral
edema diabetic bullosis are observed frequently associated with systemic microangiopathic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy(p<0.01). There is a significant correlation between blood sugar level and fungal infections
and
anogenital pruritus(p<0.01). The frequencies of shin spots, diabetic foot and diabetic bullosis increase with the length of time diabetes has been present. Nail changes are observed in 39.6% of diabetics and onychomycosis is the most
frequent(34.5%).
@ES Conclusion:
@EN It is suggested that cutaneous shgns especially fungal infections in diabetics are on the increase in Korea. A variety of skin conditions are encountered with diabetes mellitus and the dermatologist may be able to make a significant
contribution in
the control of diabetes mellitus by identifying skin signs and conditions as diabetic complications. (Kor J Dermatol 1994 ; 32(5) : 838~847).
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