TYPE II DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a syndrome with disordered metabolismand inappropriate hyperglycemia due to either deficiency of insulin secretion or combinationof insulin resistance and inadequate insulin. Infections constitute the main bulk of cutaneousmanifestations of diabetes mellitus with incidence ranging between 20–50%. Bacteria andfungi can cause infective complications involving skin and nails of the diabetic patients. Themajor share of infections in Diabetes Mellitus is contributed by bacteria. The most commoncausative organisms are Staphylococcus aurous and beta-hemolytic Streptococci. Objective:to determine the frequency of cutaneousbacterial Infections in patients with type II DiabetesMellitis, attending outpatient clinic in a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Cross sectionalstudy. Setting: Department of Dermatology and Medicine, Dr. Ziauddin University Hospital,KDLB Campus, Karachi. Period: 1st January 2017 till 31st March 2017 over a period of threemonths. Material and methods: Adult patients already diagnosed to be suffering from type 2Diabetes Mellitis presenting with cutaneous manifestations were included in the study. Patientsfulfilling the selection criteria were enrolled after an informed consent. Relevant laboratoryinvestigations were advised where required. Current study targeted bacterial infections onlyand Chi-square test was used to determine P value. Data obtained was compiled, tabulatedand analyzed by SPSS. Result: Total of 302 cases of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitis having somecutaneous manifestations were enrolled. There were 124 (41%) males and 178 (59%) females.Mean age of presentation was 50 ± 11 years, the age range being 30-80 years. The meanduration of diabetes was 8.5 ± 7 years (range being 1-30 years). Unsatisfactory glycemic controlwas present in 205 (68%) patients. Among the enrolled subjects bacterial infections were themost frequently seen skin disease accounting for 79 patients (26%). Among the patients withthese bacterial infections uncontrolled Diabetes was a feature in 61 (77%). The breakup ofbacterial infections (59) in the descending order of frequency stood as follows: cellulitis 22(28%), carbuncle 17 (21%), furuncle 14 (18%), ecthyma 13 (16%), folliculitis 09 (12%), andimpetigo 04 (5%). Conclusion: Cutaneous infections are a common feature in patients withType II Diabetes Mellitis, bacterial infections being the most common.