Forty-two Type II diabetic patients with end stage renal failure who had never previously received dialysis treatment were treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for a period of two to 48 months (average 16.8 months) with a total experience of 640 patient-months. Of the 42 patients, 29 (69%) were male and 13 (31%) were female. The mean duration of diabetes before dialysis was 12 years. Eleven patients (40%) were on dietary control alone, seven patients (24%) on oral hypoglycaemic control and ten patients (36%) on insulin treatment. Blood glucose control between these groups did not differ significantly. There was a significant gain in dry weight from a mean of 60.3 kg prior to dialysis to 74 kg two years after dialysis. There was no significant improvement in the haemoglobin level. Blood triglyceride levels increased from 214 +/- 63 mgm/dl to 283 mgm +/- 156 mgm/dl with an insignificant reduction in the cholesterol level. Serum calcium levels increased significantly from 8.0 +/- 1.3 to 9.1 +/- 1.0 mgm/dl in 12 months (p < 0.05). Serum alkaline phosphatase level remained stable. Blood pressure was stable throughout the dialysis period. Adequacy of dialysis clearance was shown by the mean value of serum urea 115 +/- 40 mgm/dl, serum creatinine 10.6 +/- 2.7 mgm/dl and serum phosphate 4.65 +/- 1.6 mgm/dl after two years on CAPD. No peritoneal membrane failure was reported.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)