The prevalence of cutaneous diabetic microangiopathy, and their association with diabetic microvascular complications

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common endocrine disorder.
It exhibits a variety of multisystem complications involving the blood vessels,
skin, eye, kidney, and the nervous system during the course of the disease process.
Abnormal carbohydrate metabolism, other altered metabolic pathways, atherosclerosis,
microangiopathy, neurone degeneration, and impaired host mechanisms all play roles.
Objective: To determine the frequency of cutaneuos microangiopathy manifestations
(CMM) that occur in diabetics, and their relation to diabetes duration, glycemic control,
and the systemic complications. Study design: This is a descriptive cross sectional
study. Results: This study revealed that 106 (42.1 %) have CMMs. Most were males
(69.8%), and 61.6 % were at the age group 40 – 64 years old. CMMs are common
among labourer ( 35.8%). Most of the patients were of type II diabetes (93.4%) for one
year or more duration (87.7 %). Uncontrolled DM represents the heigher prevalence
of CMs (67.9%). Diabetic dermopathy represented a higher prevalence (41.3 %). Of
patients with CMMs, 57.1% was found to have systemic microvascular complications of
DM. Peripheral neuropathy is considered the higher in prevalence (55.7 %) followed by
retinopathy and hypertension (47.2 and 10.7%, respectively) and the least in frequency,
was nephropathy (1.9%). Conclusion: Diabetic dermopathy represented a higher
prevalence. Peripheral neuropathy is considered the higher in prevalence in association
with diabetes dermangiopathic manifestations, where it represents 55.7 %, and the least
was nephropathy (1.9% ).

Keywords: Microangiopathic in Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Jaber Abu Eliz diabetic
center.

Sudanese Journal of Dermatology Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 74-80