Pilot Study of the Correlation between Skin Macules & Manifestations and Variables related to the Patient with Diabetes: Preliminary Findings

Diabetes Type II and its added comorbidities, as obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, can damage several organs, but one of its most disabling aspects is the deterioration of feet and legs. In this paper, the perform a statistical analysis to find the correlation between 11 macules and manifestations, and 8 variables already measured in patients with diabetes is presented. The pilot study involved 33 patients, older than 45 years old with diabetes type II, who presented macules and skin manifestations. p -values were obtained for the 8 variables used in diabetes assessment against the macules and the manifestations found in the patients of the study. From this study, six variables resulted statistically significant (p<0.05) for five macules. The resulting significant variables are: age, height, glycosilated hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, dyastolic blood pressure and time of diagnose; and the significant macules are: vascular, trauma macule, ischemia, petechiae and hypochromia. Macules and other skin manifestations have never been used as variables for diagnosis, despite being one of the first indicators of limb deterioration. Amputations and the associated processes for rehabilitation and treatment could be preventable if there were factors found that assist an early diagnose to prevent diabetic foot complications. Synthesis and applications : This correlation could be a useful indicator to determine an early deterioration process in the legs and feet of patients with diabetes, as well as raise awareness in patients for self-health care.