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This study aimed at investigating the changes occurring in the plasma lipid profile of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) hospitalized for treatment of intercurrent diseases. Twenty-nine non-insulin requiring NIDDM patients (13 men, 16 women; mean age: 67 +/- 2 yrs) and 26 adequately matched patients (12 men, 14 women; mean age: 71 +/- 2 yrs) have been prospectively studied. They were all hospitalized for treatment of various diseases. Diabetic and non-diabetic patients received similar treatment except for intensive insulin therapy in the former group. On admission, diabetic subjects had significantly higher plasma levels of triglycerides and lower levels of HDL cholesterol; during hospitalization, LDL, HDL cholesterol and apo A1 levels increased significantly. In the non-diabetic group, hospitalization and treatment induced significant increases in triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and apo B levels. In conclusion, although insulin treatment during hospitalization of non-insulin requiring NIDDM patients does not fully reverse the abnormal lipid profile, it may help to prevent its further deterioration, particularly by increasing HDL cholesterol levels and hence by decreasing the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio.