title: An observational study of cutaneous manifestations in diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care Hospital of Eastern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes mellitus and its impact on the human body have been extensively dissected over the years. However, skin which is the largest organ in the body, has received minimum attention. Therefore, this study was designed to analyze the prevalence and pattern of skin disorders among diabetic patients from Eastern region of India.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an observational study, conducted in the General Medicine and Endocrinology departments of a Medical College and Hospital in Eastern India. The data were collected prospectively and systematically in a pre-established proforma designed by us, where clinical findings along with investigations were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred and eighty (680) diabetic patients were examined, there were (64.8%) male and (35.1%) were female, of them 95.3% were Type 2 diabetics while 4.7% were Type 1. Five hundred and three patients (503) out of six hundred and eighty. i.e. 73.9% were found to have skin lesions. Thirteen (13) (41%) Type1 diabetics demonstrated skin lesions commonest being diabetic xerosis, infections and diabetic hand. Among Type2 diabetics 490(75.61%) showed skin lesions. Here infections, xerosis, hair loss beneath the knees, diabetic dermopathy were the most frequent. Majority of patients (67%) had combination of more than one type of skin lesion. There was statistically significant correlation of skin lesions with duration of diabetes, however similar correlation could not be demonstrated regarding metabolic control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Involvement of skin is inevitable and multifarious in diabetes mellitus. Higher prevalence is seen in Type 2 diabetic population. The duration of diabetes is positively correlated with lesions and infective dermatologic manifestations were associated with higher HbA1C values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, KPC Medical College, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Nandini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, KPC Medical College, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Chandan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chattopadhyay
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Nilanjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Chanchal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Nilendu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Midnapur Medical College, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Salil K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pal
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Eastern India; skin lesions
references.citation: Diabetes Care. 2009 Jul;32(7):1327-34
references.pmid: 19502545
references.citation: Indian J Dermatol Venereol. 1965 Nov-Dec;31(6):264-269
references.pmid: 29244454
references.citation: Indian J Dermatol. 2012 Jan;57(1):20-5
references.pmid: 22470203
references.citation: Diabetes Care. 2007 Aug;30(8):1964-7
references.pmid: 17519431
references.citation: Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 1997 Jul-Aug;63(4):232-4
references.pmid: 20944338
references.citation: Med Princ Pract. 2011;20(2):137-41
references.pmid: 21252568
references.citation: Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2003 Mar-Apr;69(2):105-8
references.pmid: 17642848
references.citation: J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 Mar;58(3):447-51
references.pmid: 18155320
references.citation: Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1998 Feb;39(2):101-6
references.pmid: 9597379
references.citation: Am J Med. 1982 Mar;72(3):439-50
references.pmid: 7036735
references.citation: Arch Dermatol. 1965 Jul;92(1):106-7
references.pmid: 11850939
references.citation: J Pak Med Assoc. 1998 Oct;48(10):304-5
references.pmid: 10087751
references.citation: Scott Med J. 1974 Nov;19(6):257-67
references.pmid: 4610746