Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus in children.

This article reviews skin changes occurring in diabetic children. Skin changes may be related to metabolic alterations associated with diabetes. Others may be manifestations of macro or microvascular disease. Insulin injections, required for management of most diabetes in the pediatric age group, may also cause cutaneous changes. There remain several cutaneous abnormalities which are observed with increased frequency among diabetics, the significance of which is unknown. The skin is a potentially invaluable tool for understanding certain diabetic complications; however, the value of observations and experimental data relating to cutaneous changes in diabetics depends upon documentation of the type of diabetes mellitus employing the currently accepted classification system.