Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine problems, affecting 8.3% of the population. Cutaneous manifestations may be the first sign of Diabetes, or may develop during the course of the  disease .Individuals with type 2 diabetes is more likely to manifest cutaneous manifestations  compared to type  1 patients. An observational study was conducted in a tertiary care centre among 200 patients with Diabetes  and  cutaneous  manifestations for  a period of  six months .Type 2  Diabetes was common among the study population. Majority of patients were females and the common age group was 46-55 years of age. Among the cutaneous manifestations, infections constituted the majority .Fungal infections formed the major part among infections. Candidiasis and dermatophytosis were the commonest type of fungal infections .Incidence of newly detected Diabetes was common in patients with candidal balanitis. Xerosis was seen in 18 patients  and most of these patients had  diabetic  neuropathy. The  next common cutaneous  manifestation was pruritus  which was  seen in uncontrolled  diabetes  and  in early  stages of  diabetes. Cutaneous manifestations primarily due to microangiopathy were less in our study. These were manifested as diabetic ulcers in 2.5% of patient’s. Awareness of dermatological manifestations helps in early detection of Diabetes in cases with pruritus and candidal balanitis and in early diagnosis of its complications like diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy

Keywords: Prevalence, Cutaneous manifestations, Diabetes.

1. Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus Tammie Ferringer, MD, O. Fred Miller III, MD*Mahajan S, Koranne R V,
2. Sharma S K. Cutaneous manifestation of diabetes melitus. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol [serial online] 2003 [cited 2019 Jul 21]; 69:105-8. Available from: http://www.ijdvl.com/text.asp?2003/69/2/104/58886.
3. Demeirseren DD, Emre S, Akoglu G et al. Relationship between skin disease and extra cutaneous complication of diabetes mellitus: clinical analysis of 750 patients. Am J Clin Dermatol 2014; 15:65-70 [PubMed]
4. Kalus AA, Chein AJ, Oluerd JE, Chapter 151,Diabetes Mellites and other endocrine disorders .In D Fitzpatrick, Dermatology in General Medicine, 8 TH edition Cicconne MM, Scicchitano P, Cameli M, Ceceree A ,Cortese F , et al 2014,
5. Endothelial function in prediabetes, Diabetes and diabetic cardiomyopathy, a review .J Diabetes Metab 5: 364.
6. Sticker M, Licht M ,Heise HM ,Surface ultrastructure  and size of human corneocytes ,from upper  stratum corneum layers of normal and diabetic  subjects  with discussion of  cohesion aspects .J Diabetes Metab 6: 603
7. Romano G, Morettei G, Di, Benedetto, A, Giofre C, Di Cesare E, Russo G,et al .Skin lesions in Diabetes Mellitus: Prevalence and clinical correlation. Diabetes Res Clin Pract .1998; 39:101-6
8. Giligor RS, Lazarus G S. Skin manifestations of diabetes mellitus. In, Diabetes Mellitus, eds Rifkin H, Raskin P, Brady co, Louana 1981, 313. 321.
9. Rao GS ,Pai GS,Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and leprology
10. Mahajan S, Koranne R V, Sharma S K. Cutaneous manifestation of diabetes melitus. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2003;69:105-8.

Dr Deepa Augustine

Assistant Professor, Dermatology, Government Medical College Ernakulam, India