The difference in the acute metabolic change in ketone bodies between patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was investigated in this study. The subjects employed were 7 patients with IDDM losing residual insulin secretion and 7 patients with NIDDM matched to the former patients for age, body mass index, duration of diabetes, daily insulin dosage, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c. Blood samples were drawn at 3A.M. and 7A.M. on the same day, and plasma glucose, acetoacetic acid (AcAc), 3-beta-hydroxybutylic acid (3-OHBA), free fatty acid (FFA), glycerol, cortisol and growth hormone (GH) concentrations were determined. Plasma total ketone bodies (AcAc and 3-OHBA), 3-OHBA and FFA concentrations at 7A.M. were significantly higher in the patients with IDDM than in those with NIDDM (p < 0.05), while there were no significant differences in any other parameters at 3A.M. between the patients with IDDM and those with NIDDM. The ratios of 7A.M. value/3A.M. value of total ketone bodies, AcAc and 3-OHBA concentrations were also more significantly elevated in the patients with IDDM than in those with NIDDM. It was observed that the ratio of 3-OHBA was more than 2.0 in all of the patients with IDDM and less than 2.0 in all of the patients with NIDDM, the difference being significant with p < 0.001.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)