People with diabetes are prone to many skin disorders. These include conditions that affect only diabetic individuals and conditions that occur more frequently or are more serious among diabetes patients.

Diabetic skin conditions include abnormal growths, ulcers, infections and changes in the skin itself. They range from harmless to potentially fatal, from common to rare, from easily cured to complex. Among the serious diseases, early treatment often prevents complications and speeds recovery.

There are many reasons people with diabetes face increased risk of skin problems:

• Impaired circulation
• Hyperglycemia (high glucose)
• Hyperlipemia (high levels of fats in the blood)
• Suppressed immune system
• Diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage)
• High blood pressure

The key to prevention of many types of diabetic skin conditions is regular good hygiene and control of risk factors. Treatments depend on the particular disorder but often include surgical incision or debridement (removal of damaged tissue) and antibiotics, antifungals or other medications.