Clinico-epidemiological study of cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus in Sudanese patients

Abstract EN

Objective : To identify prevalence of common skin manifestations of diabetic patients attending the out-patient clinic of Jaber Abu Eliz diabetic center in Khartoum City.

Patients and Methods: This descriptive, clinical study was conducted at Jabir Abu Eliz Diabetic Centre in Khartoum State, Sudan; during the period from July to October 2001.

125case of Diabetes mellitus,DM, patients showing cutaneous manifestations, out of 1112 of known DM cases, were considered as the study population.

Results: This study revealed that 11.24 % of the diabetic patients examined have cutaenous manifestations.

Fungal infections represent a higher prevalence (48.8 %), where Taenia pedis alone represents 17 %, and Candidal vulvovaginitis was 12 %.

Taenia manus and Taenia corporis are least manifested (ca.

0.8 % for each).

Bacterial infections represent 26.4 % (furuncles alone 11.2 %), and diabetic dermopathy 0.8 %.

Local insulin reaction appeared in 3.2 %, however, lipodystrophy was not seen.

Bullosis diabetecorum represented 6.4 %, and Vetiligo 5.6 %.

On occasions, these dermatologic findings may even precede any clinical or biochemical evidence for diabetes.

Conclusion : Of 1112 cases of diabetes mellitus examined for cutaneous findings, only 125 dibetic patients (11.24 %) showed cutaneous lesions.