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By dermatologist Antonis Seretis

People with psoriasis have an increased risk of diabetes type II, according to research from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

The study was carried out on 8.124 people with psoriasis and 76.599 without psoriasis, from a British database. The researchers measured the percentage of the body that was covered in psoriasis and evaluated the risk of diabetes over a period of four years.

They discovered that patients with 2% or less coverage have a 21% higher risk of developing diabetes type II than the average person, and those with over 10% coverage have a 64% higher risk.

According to the researchers, this relationship between psoriasis and diabetes occurs independently from the usual risk factors of diabetes, such as body weight, and must therefore be related to the type of inflammation that occurs in psoriasis, which can promote insulin resistance.

The results of the study were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.