Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder with continuously increasing prevalence characterized by high glucose levels. Blood vessels, nerves, eyes, kidneys and skin are affected. It also causes both an enormous financial burden and a reduced quality of life for the affected patients. A thirty percent of patients experience any kind of skin disturbance associated with the disease. Biochemical, vascular, immune and metabolic changes are responsible for the pathogenesis of diabetic cutaneous signs. Skin involvement may be the first sign of diabetes and carefully examining the symptoms of the skin may give a clue for the diagnosis of diabetes. However, these skin symptoms also can provide information about the course or successful treatment of the disease.
Keywords: diabetes mellitus in dermatology, diabetes mellitus, skin lesions