AbstractMortality from diabetic coma in district general hospitals is reported to be high, and the present prospective study was undertaken to investigate the outcome of treatment with a ‘low‐dose’ insulin regimen in this situation. In a three‐year period, 46 consecutive admissions to a general medical ward with diabetic coma were included. The overall mortality was 26%, due exclusively to the high mortality (42.8%) of elderly patients with non‐ketotic coma. It is concluded that the high mortality of diabetic coma in a district general hospital reflects the poor prognosis of patients with non‐ketotic coma, due to severe associated conditions. Mortality cannot be expected therefore to be influenced by the use of ‘low‐dose’