Clinical trials and experimental
Diabetes mellitus patients with xerotic skin - a case and control study
Objectives: 
Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disease which affects in time all the organs. Our primary objective was to measure water content of the skin of diabetic patients and to compare it with healthy non-diabetic controls. The secondary objective was to determine if the insulino-treated patients have a more severe grade of cutaneous xerosis as compared to diabetic patients treated with oral medication.

Material and Methods: 
This case-control study was conducted on 44 diabetic patients and 41 controls. We measured the stratum corneum (SC) hydration using Corneometer® CM 825, in 3 sites: the volar side of the forearm, the front-lateral side of the left hip and the dorsal side of the foot.

Results: 
The diabetic patients had a lower hydration of the forearm than controls. There was no difference between controls and diabetic patients treated orally. The insulinotreated patients had a lower hydration than controls in hip, and in hip when compared to diabetic patients treated by oral therapy. When we compared patients with type 1 diabetes and controls, the diabetics had a lower hydration in forearm and hip. Type 2 diabetic patients have a lower hydration on the forearm than controls. There was no difference between type 1 and 2 diabetic patients.

Conclusion: 
Diabetes affects the water content of the skin. The insulino-treated patients are more affected than the diabetic  patients treated with oral therapy. There is no difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients regarding the water content of SC.