Coincidental changes in conscious level and lens translucency during treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

A case of diabetic ketoacidosis treated by the usual methods is described. With correction of the biochemical abnormalities in the plasma the patient's conscious state deteriorated and loss of lens translucency occurred. The patient's conscious state recovered after more than 2 days and this was accompanied by a return of normal lens translucency. A common pathogenesis involving the sorbitol pathway is postulated.