Skin Conditions Linked to Type 2 Diabetes: An Overview
In the realm of health, type 2 diabetes can have far-reaching effects, extending beyond blood sugar levels to affect various aspects of the body, including the skin. This article aims to shed light on some common skin conditions that are linked to type 2 diabetes, their characteristics, and potential treatment options.
One such condition is Diabetic Dermopathy, characterised by light brown, scaly patches or red spots that typically appear on the shins. These harmless lesions are often an early sign of poor blood sugar control. Another condition, Acanthosis Nigricans, presents as dark, thickened patches of skin, often in the armpits, groin, or back of the neck. This condition is an early sign of insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
Skin tags, small, benign skin growths, are also common in people with diabetes. These growths often favour areas such as the eyelids, underarms, neck, breasts, and groin folds. Another less common but specific skin manifestation linked to diabetes is Granuloma Annulare, which causes small, firm, raised, reddish, brown, or skin-coloured bumps that spread outward in a ring.
Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum (NLD) is a rare and chronic condition that causes a rash to form, and is more common in people with diabetes. Lesions usually appear on both shins. Psoriasis, a skin condition that causes discolored patches, which may be itchy and scaly, can also be more prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes.
Blisters can occur randomly across the feet and hands in some people with diabetes, and the only treatment option is good blood sugar management. People with type 2 diabetes tend to experience more frequent severe bacterial and fungal infections than those without diabetes, and may also have more frequent severe allergic reactions.
Eruptive Xanthomas are crops of bumps with reddish-brown to yellowish-orange colour that can form anywhere on the body but most often appear on the thighs and buttocks and in the crooks of the elbows and knees. These bumps are caused by high glucose levels in people with diabetes. Waxy skin can develop in people with diabetes due to circulatory problems, often starting on the hands and spreading to the arms and upper body.
Fungal infections in people with type 2 diabetes usually cause rashes that have a border of scaly skin and, sometimes, small blisters, and tend to occur in warm, wet folds of skin.
While many diabetes-related skin conditions are harmless, some can result in painful and persistent symptoms. However, improved diabetes management often leads to significant improvement in skin symptoms and healing of lesions without further specific interventions.
Maintaining stable blood sugar levels through diet, exercise, and medications is fundamental to prevent or improve skin conditions. Use of emollients and moisturizers can alleviate dryness and itching. Depending on the condition, steroid creams may be used for inflammatory conditions, antifungal or antibacterial agents for infections. Proper care and monitoring of skin wounds to prevent infections and complications are also crucial.
Regular check-ups with a healthcare provider or dermatologist for skin changes are advised to tailor treatment and prevent progression. With the right management strategies, people with type 2 diabetes can effectively manage these skin conditions, ensuring overall health and well-being.
[1] Diabetes.co.uk. (2021). Skin problems and diabetes. [online] Available at: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/complications/skin-problems.html
[2] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Skin changes and diabetes. [online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/skin-changes/art-20045981
[3] American Diabetes Association. (2021). Diabetes and skin problems. [online] Available at: https://www.diabetes.org/healthy/diabetes-and-skin-problems
[4] American Academy of Dermatology. (2021). Diabetes and skin conditions. [online] Available at: https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/diabetes-skin-problems
- Diabetic Dermopathy, characterized by light brown, scaly patches or red spots on the shins, is an early sign of poor blood sugar control in persons with type 2 diabetes.
- Acanthosis Nigricans, manifesting as dark, thickened patches of skin, often in the armpits, groin, or back of the neck, is an early sign of insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
- Skin tags, small, benign skin growths, commonly appear in areas such as the eyelids, underarms, neck, breasts, and groin folds in people with diabetes.
- Granuloma Annulare, causing small, firm, raised, reddish, brown, or skin-coloured bumps that spread outward in a ring, is a less common but specific skin manifestation linked to diabetes.
- Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum (NLD), a rare and chronic condition that causes a rash to form, is more common in people with diabetes.
- Psoriasis, a skin condition causing discolored patches, which may be itchy and scaly, can be more prevalent in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Blisters can occur randomly across the feet and hands in some people with diabetes, and the only treatment option is good blood sugar management.
- People with type 2 diabetes tend to experience more frequent severe bacterial and fungal infections than those without diabetes.
- Eruptive Xanthomas, crops of bumps with reddish-brown to yellowish-orange color, can form anywhere on the body but most often appear on the thighs and buttocks and in the crooks of the elbows and knees in people with high glucose levels.
- Waxy skin can develop in people with diabetes due to circulatory problems, often starting on the hands and spreading to the arms and upper body.
- Fungal infections in people with type 2 diabetes usually cause rashes that have a border of scaly skin and, sometimes, small blisters, and tend to occur in warm, wet folds of skin.
- Maintaining stable blood sugar levels through diet, exercise, and medications is fundamental to prevent or improve skin conditions in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Use of emollients and moisturizers can alleviate dryness and itching in people with diabetes-related skin conditions.
- Depending on the condition, steroid creams may be used for inflammatory conditions, antifungal or antibacterial agents for infections in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Proper care and monitoring of skin wounds to prevent infections and complications are crucial for people with type 2 diabetes.
- Regular check-ups with a healthcare provider or dermatologist for skin changes are advised to tailor treatment and prevent progression for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
- With the right management strategies, including nutrition, fitness-and-exercise, and therapies-and-treatments, people with type 2 diabetes can effectively manage these skin conditions, ensuring overall health and well-being.
- Aging, mental-health, mens-health, womens-health, weight-management, and eye-health, among other chronic diseases (such as cancer, respiratory-conditions, digestive-health, and autoimmune-disorders), can also impact the health and wellness of a person with type 2 diabetes, and require additional attention and proper management strategies.
