1. Twenty‐two maturity‐onset type diabetics treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents entered a single‐blind crossover study using placebo (periods A and C, 2 months each) and clofibrate (2 g/day; period B; 2 months). 2. In thirteen patients, under reasonably good control, clofibrate did not reduce fasting or post‐prandial blood glucose, nor 24 h glycosuria; no improvement was noted in the M‐value, an index of diabetes control. 3. In contrast, in nine patients, with poor diabetes control, clofibrate reduced 24 h glycosuria and significantly improved the M‐value. 4. In all patients, clofibrate therapy was associated with a significant 19‐23% reduction in plasma fibrinogen. 5. It is suggested that addition of clofibrate may be useful in maturity‐onset diabetics not adequately controlled by diet combined with oral hypoglycaemic agents.

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