Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum is a rare skin disorder, usually considered a 
marker for diabetes mellitus. More than half of the patients with necrobiosis 
lipoidica diabeticorum have diabetes mellitus, but less than one per cent of 
diabetes mellitus patients have necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. In the 
diabetes and dermatology literature, we find the position that there is no 
effect of glucose control on either the appearance of necrobiosis lipoidica 
diabeticorum or the clinical course of the lesion. We base our challenge to this 
position on a critical review of the original data. And conclude on the 
contrary, that necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum is usually associated with 
poor glucose control and that tighter glucose control, as currently practised, 
might improve or prevent the disorder.