Skin Spots
| Author: Judy Kohn, RN, BSN, CDE |
| Last Updated: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 |
Q: "I have several dark spots on my legs that I was told are a result of my Type 1 diabetes. I control my sugar level fairly well. Do you know why these spots are appearing? Are they symptoms of diabetes? If so, is there any way to prevent them from appearing? Finally, is there anything that I can do to get rid of the existing spots?"
A: I don't know for sure what the spots are, so I would encourage you to print out this answer and ask your doctor if this condition describes your situation.
Diabetic Dermopathy usually appears as small, round, colored spots on the shin or lower part of the legs. According to the American Diabetes Association's The Diabetes Problem Solver, 70% of all men with diabetes over age 60 develop this condition; it is more common in men, although people without diabetes sometimes develop it as well.
Usually the spots begin as small pink spots that later turn brown, and sometimes scaly. There is no known cause, although it is more common in people with neuropathy. However, according to an article in Diabetes Spectrum, this condition has been observed in 1.5% of healthy non-diabetic individuals, and 20% of people with other various endocrine abnormalities, but not diabetes. The spots can disappear spontaneously, but new spots tend to develop near the former spots.
There are no other symptoms with this condition, and there is no cure. If you feel any discomfort, you should also discuss this with your doctor.
Related Links
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
http://www.diabetes.org
Important Notice: The responses provided by the team of Diabetes Educators are based on their personal experiences and expertise as practicing diabetes healthcare professionals, and are not to be considered diabetes management advice from Abbott Laboratories. Remember that information provided by the team of Diabetes Educators is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your physician about any healthcare questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to healthcare issues.
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