Skin disorders common in young type 1 diabetics

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - About two thirds of young patients with type 1 diabetes may have skin disorders, some of which develop early in the course of the disease, according to study results published in the journal Diabetes Care.

While diabetes is known to be associated with a number of skin disorders, "there is a relative paucity of studies looking at the prevalence of skin changes in young patients with type 1 diabetes," Dr. Milos D. Pavlovic, of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia, and colleagues write. Skin problems usually develop after diabetes does, but they may also be the first sign or may even precede a diagnosis.

The team compared the presence and frequency of skin manifestations in 212 young patients with type 1 diabetes ranging in age from 2 to 22 years and 196 healthy subjects matched to the diabetics for age and other characteristics who served as controls.

Overall, 67 percent of diabetic patients had at least one skin disorder versus 26 percent of the control subjects. Active skin conditions that were considered to be associated with diabetes were observed in 38 percent.

Ichthyosis, dry patches of scaly skin, was seen in 22 percent of the diabetics compared with 3 percent of the controls. Rubeosis, abnormal growth of blood vessels causing red discoloration, occurred in 7.1 percent of diabetics and none of the controls. Fungal infections were observed in 4.7 percent of diabetic patients and 1.5 percent of controls.

The authors also note that the frequency of skin reactions to insulin therapy was fairly low, at 2.7 percent.

Based on the frequency and variety of skin diseases in these patients, Pavlovic's team suggests that a dermatologist should be included in the group of doctors who treat patients with type 1 diabetes.

SOURCE: Diabetes Care, August 2007.