Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Behavioral Assessment of Visual Function via Optomotor Response and Cognitive Function via Y-Maze in Diabetic Rats
Published on: October 23, 2020
Cataracts as the initial manifestation of type 1 diabetes mellitus
Neil G Uspal1, Emily S Schapiro
1Division of Emergency Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, USA. uspalng@email.chop.edu
Insights
Bilateral cataracts can be an early sign of new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus in children. Prompt medical evaluation is crucial for diagnosing underlying causes before cataract surgery.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Cataracts are a common cause of vision impairment in children.
- New-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus often presents with classic symptoms like polyuria and polydipsia.
- Ocular manifestations of diabetes typically include retinopathy, which develops over time.
Abstract:
A 13-year-old girl presented with the gradual onset of bilateral visual changes. She was initially diagnosed with idiopathic cataracts, but a medical evaluation revealed new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus with ketosis. The patient was hospitalized and started on a regimen of insulin before discharge and eventual surgical correction of her cataracts. Cataracts are an uncommon initial manifestation of new-onset type 1 diabetes, occasionally in the absence of other more classic symptoms of diabetes. Pediatric patients presenting with bilateral cataracts should be evaluated for a underlying etiology of their cataracts before being referred for surgical correction.
Related Concept Videos
Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations
Diabetic Retinopathy
Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Type I Diabetes I: Introduction
Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

