Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus in children

Abstract

Skin lesions in diabetes mellitus may be caused by metabolic disorders and develop due to insulin injections as a result of concurrent infection or in syndromic forms of diabetes. The skin lesions caused by metabolic disorders include diabetic dermopathy, diabetic bladder, necrobiosis lipoidica, granuloma annulare, eruptive xanthomas, scleroderma, and vitiligo. Children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus have frequently skin infections, such as cutaneous and mucosal candidiasis (stomatitis, vaginitis, onychomycosis, paronychia, perleche, and candidiasis of skin folds and interdigital spaces), and bacterial skin infections. The sequels of insulin injections include post-injection lipodystrophies, swelling, and allergic reactions. Early referral to a dermatologist assists in identifying skin changes in the early stage of diabetes and in using timely combination therapy.