Autoimmune Diseases Diabetes

Scleroderma and Diabetes

Hello, I am Janey Willis, ISN Guide to Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease, and Type 2 Diabetes is caused by risk factors such as lifestyle, ethnicity, age, and pregnancy. The majority of diabetics have Type 2. See Disclaimer.

Overview

Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1) and systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) are both autoimmune diseases. (Also see Autoimmune Diseases, What is Scleroderma? and Overview of Diabetes)

Genes associated with scleroderma suggest that there is increased susceptibility to autoimmunity, as chromosomal region 1q42 has also been linked to lupus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and Type 1 Diabetes.

Diabetics can also develop skin complications that resemble systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) or Scleredema adultorum Buschke.

Scleroderma and Diabetes

Cancers of the Oral Mucosa. Immune defects may predispose to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), especially lip cancer. OSCC is also now being reported with increased frequency in association with diabetes and systemic sclerosis. Medscape. (Also see Dental/Mouth in Systemic Scleroderma and Cancer and Scleroderma)

Soft tissue calcifications in the lower extremities of severely diabetic patients simulating venous stasis or collagen vascular disease. Patients with severe diabetes mellitus may exhibit soft tissue calcifications of their lower extremities that may simulate the changes of venous stasis or scleroderma. PubMed, Emerg Radiol, [2006]. (Also see Calcinosis)

Scleredema and diabetic sclerodactyly. It is important to distinguish between diabetic thick skin and scleroderma because scleroderma may also present with sclerodactyly and diffuse or localized thickening of the skin. Dermatology Online Journal.

Scleredema Adultorum Buschke

Scleredema is an uncommon condition of unknown etiology (cause) characterized by nonpitting induration of the skin with occasional erythema. It may be associated with a history of an antecedent febrile illness, diabetes mellitus or the development of a blood dyscrasia. Medscape. (Also see Scleredema Adultorum Buschke)

Case Report: Scleredema and diabetic sclerodactyly. Scleredema and diabetic sclerodactyly are both well recognized skin findings that may occur in patients with diabetes mellitus. PubMed, Dermatol Online J.

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