Having Psoriasis Raises Risk of Diabetes, Hypertension

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Importantly, the connection between psoriasis and the other two conditions was independent of body-mass index, ruling out the possibility that obesity or metabolic syndrome might explain the phenomenon.

Now the question is what to do with the findings.

"It does open up the question of whether patients evaluated [for psoriasis] in a doctor's office or dermatologist's office should be screened for diabetes, although it's probably too early to jump to that conclusion," Qureshi said. "We can't carte blanche start screening for diabetes, but it's worth considering screening for diabetes even in patients who are not obese."

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And screening for insulin resistance may be something else to consider, added Dr. Spyros Mezitis, an endocrinologist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

"We need more research to see if patients you're seeing with psoriasis should be treated for insulin resistance or at least screened for it," he said.

More information

The National Psoriasis Foundation has more on this condition.

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