Diabetes and Skin: A Review

The 1974 review discussed the relationship between diabetes and various skin conditions, noting that diabetic patients often had higher skin glucose levels, which complicated diagnostic tests. Vascular complications like microangiopathy and atherosclerosis led to skin atrophy, hair loss, and gangrene. Common skin manifestations included diabetic dermopathy, necrobiosis lipoidica, and increased infections. Poorly controlled diabetics sometimes experienced diffuse alopecia. The review also highlighted the prevalence of conditions like granuloma annulare, rubeosis, and various lipodystrophies, and noted complications from diabetes treatments. Overall, the skin was described as a "show window" for the diverse manifestations of diabetes.