[Cross sectional search for skin lesions in 118 diabetic patients].

BACKGROUND: Thirty percent of patients with diabetes mellitus have some skin lesion that is directly related to the disease or caused by infections, complications or treatments used.

AIM: To determine the frequency and type of skin lesions in diabetic patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross sectional examination of 26 patients with type 1 diabetes, 75 patients with type 2 diabetes and 17 patients with gestational diabetes. A complete skin physical examination and a direct mycological examination and culture when Onychomycosis was suspected, were performed.

RESULTS: In 56% of patients, diabetes lasted more than 10 years and 52% had some complication of the disease. A mean of 1.4+/-0.1 skin lesions per patient was found among subjects with type 1 or 2 diabetes. No skin lesion was found in patients with gestational diabetes. The lesions found were Onychomycosis in 27%, diabetic dermatopathy in 17%, macroangiopathy in 15%, tine a corporis in 14% and neurosis in 14%.

CONCLUSIONS: Onychomycosis is the most commonly found skin lesion in diabetic patient.