Question

Joe Davis, a 62-year-old patient, is admitted to the hospital with chest injuries after a motor vehicle crash. The client has a history of type 1 diabetes. While assessing the patient, the nurse notes that the patient has several clusters of dull red bumps, smaller than a pencil eraser, spreading to an area the size of a quarter on each lower anterior leg. The skin in the lower extremities is thick; leathery; and has waxy, yellow coloration.

What skin eruptions associated with the patient’s systemic disease does the patient most likely have?

What is the underlying cause for the skin eruptions?

What potential complications are associated with the skin eruptions?

Answer 1

What skin eruptions associated with the patient’s systemic disease does the patient most likely have?

• Diabetic dermopathy - It can occur in a chronic diabetic patient who has diabetic neuropathy and any minor problems in blood vessels and also due to trauma or injury
• Stasis dermatitis- It occurs due to compromised blood circulation in lower extremities and also due to trauma

What is the underlying cause for the skin eruptions?

Underlying causes are injury, chronic diabetic, old age and poor control of blood glucose levels

What potential complications are associated with the skin eruptions?

These skin problems often occur in diabetes older patients because they will have loss of sensation due to neuropathy, skin atrophy and decreased blood flow in lower extremities often. If this skin condition is not treated poor healing occurs leading to progression of lesions , necrosis occur and later amputation of affected extremity.