Diabetes-related skin conditions
Necrobiosis lipoidica, diabetic dermopathy, bullosis diabeticorum, scleroedema and eruptive xanthomas; the infections diabetes invites; and skin problems from treatment: gliptin bullous pemphigoid, SGLT2 inhibitor Fournier gangrene, insulin amyloid nodules and sensor adhesive dermatitis.
Tier 2Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Up to two-thirds of people with diabetes develop a skin problem. Sort them into four groups:
- Markers of insulin resistance: acanthosis nigricans, skin tags, eruptive xanthomas
- Diabetes-associated dermatoses: diabetic dermopathy, necrobiosis lipoidica, bullosis diabeticorum, scleroedema, limited joint mobility
- Infections: candida, erythrasma, cellulitis, necrotising fasciitis, malignant otitis externa, mucormycosis
Loading the rest of the note…
Finished reading?
Sources
- Duff M, Demidova O, Blackburn S, Shubrook J. Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus. Clin Diabetes 2015;33(1):40-8American Diabetes Association (Clinical Diabetes), 2015
- Ionescu C et al. Understanding necrobiosis lipoidica: a comprehensive review. Biomedicines 2024;12(2):337 (diabetes in 11% to 66% of NL series)Biomedicines, 2024
- Lazzarini PA et al. Australian evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and management of diabetes-related foot disease: a guideline summary. Med J Aust 2023;219(10):485-95AU/NZDiabetes Feet Australia and Australian Diabetes Society, 2021 guidelines, MJA summary 2023 (no newer Australian edition found, November 2026)
- Nilsson MR. Insulin amyloid at injection sites of patients with diabetes. Amyloid 2016;23(3):139-47Amyloid, 2016
- FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA warns about rare occurrences of a serious infection of the genital area with SGLT2 inhibitors for diabetesUS Food and Drug Administration, 29 August 2018
- Therapeutic Guidelines: Dermatology and DiabetesAU/NZTherapeutic Guidelines Limited (eTG complete), current eTG edition (topic version not verified)
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Turnstile bot check on sign-in and signed-out feedback