SUMMARY: 1. A direct stimulatory effect of insulin, in vitro, on the uptake of galactose, glucosamine and some pentoses by the intact lens, has been established. Stimulation of glucose uptake is perceptible only under certain conditions, and was more pronounced in a medium of bicarbonate buffer than in phosphate. 2. Insulin increased lactic acid production from glucose and from galactose. 3. Chronic diabetes decreased galactose uptake. Insulin, in vitro, restored the uptake to the level of that of normal rat lenses. 4. Phloridzin was found to cancel the effect of insulin. 5. The increase in uptake by insulin was of the same order of magnitude for glucose and galactose, irrespective of the total uptake. The decrease in uptake due to diabetes was quantitatively the same as the increase by insulin in normal rat lenses. The effect of insulin on lactic acid production was identical for both hexoses. 6. The possible existence of two pathways of glucose uptake in the rat lens is discussed.