May 30, 2000
Complications
Question from Baxter, Tennessee, USA:
My son was diagnosed at age eight with Type 1 diabetes six weeks after having chicken pox. He is now seventeen. The sides of his face, especially along his cheeks, remain red and irritated constantly, as if he has constant sunburn. Is this a normal condition because he takes insulin?
Answer:
Redness of the face is a recognised late complication of diabetes. It seems to be due to increased viscosity of the blood and congestion in postcapillary venules. In this sense it probably reflects less than optimal blood sugar control over a number of years. It would be important perhaps to see if your son’s care could be reviewed by an experienced diabetic team so that he could be evaluated for other similar problems such as hypertension, retinal problems and microalbuminuria as a herald of kidney problems.
DOB
