Plasma lipoprotein and lipoprotein lipase activity have been evaluated in young diabetics with and without ketonuria and in healthy controls of the same age. Fifteen (age range 7-23 years) newly detected diabetics (8 with ketonuria, 7 non ketonuric) have been examined before starting the treatment. Five healthy medical students (age range 19-21 years) have also been studied. Both ketotic and non ketotic patients showed an impaired insulin and C-peptide response to the glucose load in comparison to controls. Ketotic patients had low lipoprotein lipase activity (p less than 0.01) and high density lipoprotein (p less than 0.01); total plasma Triglycerides and VLDL Triglyceride and Cholesterol were higher than in controls. Plasma Triglyceride and VLDL Triglyceride and Cholesterol were inversely related to lipoprotein lipase activity. Low lipoprotein lipase activity, from adipose tissue and muscle, has been found to be associated with hypertriglyceridemia and reduced HDL Cholesterol in young diabetic patients with ketonuria.