“This condition is known as diabetic dermopathy, characterized by thinning, shiny, friable skin due to microvascular changes in the small blood vessels in the skin,” says Jenepher Piper, a family practice nurse practitioner for Maryland Family Care for 25+ years and a former nurse with Home Care Nurse for Johns Hopkins Home Care.
“This is similar to the changes that occur to the retina of the eye (diabetic retinopathy).”
It is unknown what the underlying mechanism is of diabetes dermopathy, according to a report by the British Journal of Diabetes.
Despite the appearance, with can be mottled and include shiny sections, this condition does not cause symptoms.
The skin lesions do not require treatment.
If you notice what seems to be this condition on your legs, even if it doesn’t appear to be shiny, and your last checkup did not show diabetes or you were not tested for it, you should get retested!
