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May 13, 2000

Other Illnesses

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Question from Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India:

What is the relationship between diabetes and xanthoma [fatty deposits in the skin] which is found with increased level of lipids in blood? Is it the first stage of diabetes? Is there any similarity in treatment of the two?

Answer:

From: DTeam Staff

The presence of xanthomata on the eyelids has sometimes been relied on as a way to screen for Type 2 diabetes. Xanthomata however are related to hyperlipidemia and not directly to the underlying disorder that is found in glucose metabolism and they therefore occur in other conditions in which there is hyperlipidemia.

The pharmacologic treatment of xanthomata is not similar to the treatment of any form of diabetes mellitus, although recommendations for changes in diet are somewhat similar.

DOB