[Properly managing the cataract patients with diabetes mellitus]

The recent years has witnessed the fast growing number of cataract patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). The complexity and diversity of DM-related ocular complications has made the cataract treatment of such patients intractable and easily ignored. Cataract surgery has become an essential part of the comprehensive treatment of diabetic ophthalmopathy. Therefore, it is more necessary to implement proper perioperative management. In this article, we discuss the preoperative blood glucose control and the prevention of infective endophthalmitis. Moreover, the importance of ocular surface health and the strategy-making in the patients with diabetic retinopathy are elaborated. We also emphasize the details of surgical techniques and postoperative follow-up. We strive to create a holistic concept throughout the process of diagnosis and treatment with an individualized and standardized view, so that the concurrence of cataract and DM may not be a challenge in the future. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56: 325-329).