Different patterns of cutaneous manifestation of diabetes mellitus type-2 observed in tertiary care centre of South West Rajasthan

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common endocrinal disorder caused by complex interaction of genetics and environmental factors. It is a common and debilitating disease ^[1] characterized by hyperglycaemia due to absolute or relative insulin deficiency. In India, the disease prevalence varies from 2.4% to 11.6%. ^[2] In this disorder, abnormalities in the metabolism of carbohydrates, alteration of metabolic pathways, vascular involvement in the form of atherosclerosis, microangiopathy, neuronal involvement in form of sensory, motor and autonomic neuropathies and impaired host mechanism, all play a role. ^[3] Abnormalities of insulin and elevated blood glucose level led to involvement of multiple organ system including cardiovascular, renal, nervous system, eyes and skin. ^[4] Various dermatological features are known to be cutaneous markers of diabetes mellitus like diabetic dermatopathy, acrochordons, acanthosis nigricans and bullous diabeticorum, etc. Dermatological features of diabetes mellitus are highly beneficial to the clinicians as few of them can alert the medical practitioner to the diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus and also reflect the status of glycaemic control and metabolic derangement. ^[5] Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the pattern of cutaneous manifestation and their complications in diabetes mellitus type-2 in controlled and uncontrolled state in South West Rajasthan.

Material and Methods

An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 400 patients who attended the dermatology outpatient department and admitted in medicine ward of Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur from 1^st February 2015 to 31^st January 2016. Patients with gestational diabetes, those associated with HIV or any malignancy, and hyperglycaemia due to chronic steroid intake were excluded from the study.

Detailed history with particular reference to cutaneous complaints like onset and duration of rash, history of evolution, progression and treatment modalities if any including demographic data, duration and type of diabetes was recorded. A complete cutaneous examination was done in all cases to observe for the presence of any specific or nonspecific dermatosis. Fasting and postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c were done in all cases and relevant microbiological, cytological or histopathological examinations were carried out in relevant cases to establish dermatological diagnosis.

Dermatological manifestation per patient and temporal relation with DM Type-2 were estimated using measures of mean (central tendency theorem) and measures of dispersion (standard deviation). All the statistical tests were two sided and P-value <0.05 was considered as significant level.

Results

Out of 400 patients, 208(52%) patients were males and 192(48%) were females. The mean age of patients were 47.6 ± 7.582 years within the range of 30-70 years. 260(65%) patients had DM Type-2 since the last 5 years, 89(22.25%) patients since last 5-10 years and 51(12.75%) patients since more than 10 years. Patients with uncontrolled DM Type-2 were 192(48%) and those with controlled DM Type-2 were 208(52%). 240(60%) patients were on oral hypoglycaemics, 114(28.7%) patients on insulin, 45(11.3%) patients on combination therapy ([Table 1]).

Out of 400 patients of DM Type-2, 208(52%) patients belong to the controlled group and 192(48%) patients belong to the uncontrolled group. Among the specific disorders, Dermatophytosis was present in 24(6%) patients in controlled group and 53(13.25%) patients in uncontrolled group. Candidiasis was present in 21(5.25%) patients in controlled group and 55(13.75%) patients in uncontrolled group. Bacterial Infection was present in 25(6.25%) patients in controlled group and 68(17%) patients in uncontrolled group. Acanthosis Nigricans was present in 13(3.25%) patients in controlled group and 37(9.25%) patients in uncontrolled group. Acrochordon was present in 44(11%) patients in controlled group and 94(23.5%) patients in uncontrolled group. Onychomycosis was present in 9(2.25%) patients in controlled and 24(6%) patients in uncontrolled group. Among the non-specific disorders, Generalized Pruritus was present in 69(17.25%) patients in controlled group and 131(32.75%) patients in uncontrolled group. Xerosis was present in 96(24%) patients in controlled group and 163(40.75%) patients in uncontrolled group ([Table 2]).

This study showed that in specific cutaneous disorders, Acrochordon 138(34.5%) was the most common manifestation which was followed by, Bacterial Infections 93(23.5%), Dermatophytosis 77(19.2%), Candidiasis 76(19%), Acanthosis nigricans 50(12.5%) and Onychomycosis 33(8.25%)([Figure 1]). Xerosis 259(64.7%) was the commonest manifestation in non-specific cutaneous disorders followed by, Generalized pruritus 200(50%), Seborrheic keratosis 35(8.75%) ([Figure 2]).

Discussion

Globally, an estimated 462 million individuals are affected by type 2 diabetes, corresponding to 6.28% of the world’s population. ^[6]

In this study both controlled and uncontrolled patients were almost equal in numbers 52% and 48% respectively and male versus female ratio were 1:08. This study showed male predominance though few study like Bhat et al, ^[7] Mahajan et al^[8] and Lugo et al^[9] showed female predominance.

Mean age of diabetic patients was 48 years. This seems to be similar to the report Ahmed et al,^[10] where the mean age of diabetic patients was 54 years. It signifies that majority of them had longstanding diabetes affecting their social activities, as well as, productivity.^[10]

This study, cutaneous manifestations were more commonly seen in uncontrolled diabetes mellitus type 2 (HbA1c >7gm). Commonest specific cutaneous manifestation observed was Acrochordon 34.5% which has similar frequency was reported by Kahana et al^[11] 26.3% but Thappa et al^[12] reported high incidence of acrochordon 62.8% which may be explained by the fact that they have more complicated and uncontrolled cases of diabetes mellitus. Zahra Azizian et al ^[13] reported Xerosis and Androgenic Alopecia to be the two main common cutaneous disorders detected in their patients and, Roselind^[14] et al reported predomination of fungal infections in their study.

As we already discussed that it has been regarded as a sign of impaired glucose tolerance, DM, and increased cardiovascular (atherogenic lipid profile) risk. The next commonest skin manifestations observed in this study was skin Infections 69.75%. Bacterial infections was seen in 23.2% of patients which is similar to other studies. Thappa et al ^[12] and Bhat et al. ^[7] Common infection observed was Dermatophytoses 19.2% and Onychomycosis 8.25%, similar frequency was reported observed by Ragunatha et Al ^[15] 8.1% and Mahajan et al^[8] 11% for dematophytoses and Kuvandik et al ^[16] 68.9% and Glaser et al ^[17] 50% for onychomycosis respectively. In our study, Candidiasis was observed in 19%. Mahajan et al ^[8] and Foss et al ^[18] reported 10% and 12.9% respectively. Raghu et al ^[19] found fungal infection more common in type 2 diabetics. The relative high prevalence of skin infections in this study could be due to poor hygienic conditions as well as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus which increases the risk of development of micro-angiopathy and related sequelae. Other than acrochordon and infection, Acanthosis nigricans 12.5% was also observed in our study which showed high percentage as compare to Bhat et al ^[7] 5.3%, Mutairi et al ^[20] 4.7%, Mahajan et al ^[8] 3% respectively.

In non-specific cutaneous manifestation we observed xerosis 64.75%, generalized pruritus 50%, which were statistically significant(p<0.5) in uncontrolled diabetes type 2. Others less common skin manifestation were seborrheic keratosis 8.75%, lichen simplex chronicus 5%, lentigenes 4.5%, hyperpigmentation 4%, senile adenoma 3.75%, palmoplantar keratoderma 2.75%, eczema 1.75%, macular amyloidosis 1.75%, pigmented purpuric dermtosis 1.75%, melasma 1.75%, oral lichen planus 1.25%, nail dystrophy 1.25% in descending order.

Xerosis 64.75% accounted for the commonest skin manifestation in non-specific disorder of diabetic patients. Thappa et al ^[12] and Ragunatha et al ^[15] reported 18.8% and 4.4% respectively. The reason for high prevalence of xerosis in our diabetic population is perhaps due to cold and dry climatic condition in this region for most of time in the year. The clinical observations are supported by objective findings of a reduced hydration state of the stratum corneum and decreased sebaceous gland activity in patients with diabetes, without any impairment of the stratum corneum barrier function. ^[15]

Generalized pruritus 50% was next common skin manifestation in non specific disorder while Thappa et al ^[12] and Mahajan et al^[8] reported15.2% and 10% respectively. There was statistically significant increased incidence of pruritus in diabetics than non-diabetics. ^[21]

The complications of Diabetes Mellitus Type-2 we were observed in this study like hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy and peripheral neuropathy which were more in uncontrolled group, mostly as result of poor glycaemic control.

Summary and Conclusions

This was a detailed study to evaluate the pattern of cutaneous manifestation in 400 patients with type 2 diabetes which highlighted a number of observations. Cutaneous manifestations are quite common in uncontrolled (HbA1c>7gm) type 2 diabetes mellitus as compare to controlled group. Uncontrolled group is more prone to develop diabetic complication like hypertension, diabetic retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy etc.

It is concluded that, Diabetes mellitus Type-2 involves the skin quite often and whenever patients present with multiple skin manifestation and then diabetic status should be checked and controlled.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Source of Funding

None.