Occasionally, the atlantooccipital membrane may be partially ossified, resulting in an apparent bone fragment posterior to the superior articular process. This should not be confused with a fracture of the atlas or occipital condyle (Figs. 8A and 8B).
Belinda Childs, MN, ARNP, BC-ADM, CDE, responds. Skin abscesses, also known as boils, are more common in people with uncontrolled diabetes. They are usually caused by bacteria, typically Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus, but the abscesses can also be caused by other bacteria.
Diabetic nephropathy -- kidney disease that results from diabetes -- is the number one cause of kidney failure. Almost a third of people with diabetes develop diabetic nephropathy. People with diabetes and kidney disease do worse overall than people with kidney disease alone.