[Proliferative diabetic retinopathy at the time of diabetes diagnosis]

The diagnosis of proliferative retinopathy led to a search for a hitherto undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in 5 patients. In 3 further patients advanced proliferative retinopathy was found only a few months after diagnosis of diabetes. In all 8 patients it was possible to regulate the diabetes with oral medication. The mean age of the patients was 49.1 years, the youngest being 42, the oldest 54. The question as to whether the courses of proliferative retinopathy and diabetes mellitus may be heterogeneous is discussed.