Correlation Between Diabetes and Risk of Uveitis Confirmed in Recent Study

Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of developing uveitis compared to healthy individuals, and the risk is increased with coexisting diabetic retinopathy (DR) and advancing stages of DR, according to a real-world data analysis from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.1

DR is among the most prevalent complications of diabetes, affecting almost 1 in 3 patients with diabetes globally. It is also a leading cause of blindness, given the irreversible damage it inflicts on the retina. Despite effective therapies such as anti-VEGF injections and photocoagulation, limitations such as drug resistance, partial therapeutic responses, and low patient compliance resulting from a reliance on intravitreal injections are consistently unresolved.2

In addition to DR, diabetes mellitus can also negatively impact the course and outcome of uveitis. Preexisting diabetes has long been associated with a greater inflammatory response during uveitis episodes, which translates to a higher degree of complications. Poor glycemic control, frequently caused by side effects of medication used to treat uveitis, can also be linked to more severe inflammation.3

The retrospective cohort study utilized data from the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network. Included patients had to have a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D); investigators included both insulin users and non-insulin users among those with T2D, with and without DR. The team also employed 1:1 propensity score matching, adjusting for demographic variables and relevant medical conditions, to ensure compatibility between cohorts.1

Ultimately, investigators saw a substantially greater risk of uveitis in patients with T2DM, irrespective of DR, compared to the control group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 6.054; 95% CI, 5.484-6.683 and 1.381; 95% CI, 1.254-1.521). The risk remained high at 5- and 10-year follow-ups. In patients with T1D and DR, the HR increased compared to control from years 1 to 10 (HR at 1 year, 2.274; 95% CI, 1.137-4.547). Additionally, patients with T2D and non-proliferative DR saw a reduced uveitis risk versus those with T2D and proliferative DR at years 1-10 (HR at 1 year, 0.339; 95% CI, 0.302-0.380).1

Ultimately, investigators concluded that patients with T2D have a higher risk of uveitis, which increases with coexisting DR. Patients with T1D are also at an increased risk, albeit a lesser one.1

“These findings emphasize the critical need for vigilant monitoring and targeted interventions to manage ocular health complications in diabetic populations,” wrote Darren Jindal, PhD, a researcher at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and colleagues.1

References

1. Jindal, D. A., Alshammari, N., Dihan, Q., Chauhan, M. Z., Gupta, V., Soliman, M. K., & Sallam, A. B. (2025). The Association of Diabetes Mellitus with Uveitis: A Real-World Data Analysis. Ocular Immunology and Inflammation, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/09273948.2025.2548333

2. Seo H, Park SJ, Song M. Diabetic Retinopathy (DR): Mechanisms, Current Therapies, and Emerging Strategies. Cells. 2025;14(5):376. Published 2025 Mar 4. doi:10.3390/cells14050376

3. Mohapatra A, Sudharshan S, Majumder PD, Sreenivasan J, Raman R. Clinical Profile and Ocular Morbidities in Patients with Both Diabetic Retinopathy and Uveitis. Ophthalmol Sci. 2024;4(6):100511. Published 2024 Mar 7. doi:10.1016/j.xops.2024.100511