Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Sep-Oct;31(5):700-712.
doi: 10.1111/wrr.13108. Epub 2023 Jul 19.

Cutaneous changes in diabetic patients: Primed for aberrant healing?

Vivien Y Chen  1 , Lindsey G Siegfried  1 , Marjana Tomic-Canic  1 , Rivka C Stone  1 , Irena Pastar  1
Affiliations
Review

Cutaneous changes in diabetic patients: Primed for aberrant healing?

Vivien Y Chen et al. Wound Repair Regen. 2023 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Cutaneous manifestations affect most patients with diabetes mellitus, clinically presenting with numerous dermatologic diseases from xerosis to diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Skin conditions not only impose a significantly impaired quality of life on individuals with diabetes but also predispose patients to further complications. Knowledge of cutaneous biology and the wound healing process under diabetic conditions is largely limited to animal models, and studies focusing on biology of the human condition of DFUs remain limited. In this review, we discuss the critical molecular, cellular, and structural changes to the skin in the hyperglycaemic and insulin-resistant environment of diabetes with a focus specifically on human-derived data. Elucidating the breadth of the cutaneous manifestations coupled with effective diabetes management is important for improving patient quality of life and averting future complications including wound healing disorders.

Keywords: diabetes; diabetic foot ulcer; glycation; hyperglycaemia; inflammation; neuropathy; skin; wound healing.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Representation of diabetes-induced cutaneous changes affecting epidermis, dermis, peripheral nerves, immune cells and subcutaneous tissue. AGE, advanced glycation end products.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Salari N, Hosseinian-Far A, Hosseinian-Far M, et al. Evaluation of skin lesions in diabetic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2020;19(2):1909–1916. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bellomo TR, Lee S, McCarthy M, et al. Management of the diabetic foot. Semin Vasc Surg. 2022;35(2):219–227. - PubMed
    1. Boulton AJM, Armstrong DG, Kirsner RS, et al. Diagnosis and management of diabetic foot complications. American Diabetes Association; 2018. - PubMed
    1. Bustan RS, Wasim D, Yderstraede KB, Bygum A. Specific skin signs as a cutaneous marker of diabetes mellitus and the prediabetic state – a systematic review. Dan Med J. 2017;64(1):A5316. - PubMed
    1. Ramirez HA, Liang L, Pastar I, et al. Comparative genomic, microRNA, and tissue analyses reveal subtle differences between non-diabetic and diabetic foot skin. PLoS One. 2015;10(8):e0137133. - PMC - PubMed