29th May 2025

Skin and mucosal disease

T2DM is associated with several different dermatological pathologies:

• Diabetic dermopathy – Small, slightly indented, red/brown patches that develop on the shins in roughly 1/3rd of diabetic patients. They are benign and can disappear if good glycaemic control is achieved.
• Diabetic bullae – Blistering lesions that can develop typically on the hands and feet and can grow to be quite large. They are benign and self-limiting.
• Acanthosis nigricans – Dark skin discolouration present in the skin folds, for example, the axillae or groin caused by insulin resistance.
• Necrobiosis lipoidica – Waxy, yellow, granulomatous plaques that form on the shins and can develop into ulcers or squamous cell lung cancer.
• Candida infection – Oral, genital and candida intertrigo are all more common in diabetic patients. 
• Periodontitis – Microvascular damage at the gums puts diabetics at a higher risk of periodontitis and they should attend regular checks at the dentist.