A 23-year-old obese male was admitted with a blood glucose greater than 33.3mmol/l. He was conscious, without ketones in his urine and required large doses of insulin. His illness was precipitated by hot water burns which caused cellulites. Initial C-peptide value was low. Metformin and insulin were started but insulin was stopped after the fourth week after admission, before discharge from hospital. On follow up he had lost weight, his blood glucose normalised on oral medication, and his C-peptide had risen to above the normal range. The case demonstrates difculties in classifcation of type of diabetes after acute presentation.

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