We carried out a retrospective survey to assess prevalence and type of diabetes in three Italian Renal Units located respectively in the North (Tradate, Varese), in the Middle (Latina) and in the South (Reggio Calabria) of Italy. The prevalence of diabetes among patients accepted for RRT was 10.5% (60/659). 40 patients (66.7%) were non-insulin dependent and only 6 patients were insulin-dependent. A similar pattern was observed among the 289 patients referred to the Renal Unit of Reggio Calabria during 1972-1987 for evaluation of Chronic Renal Failure. Our data suggest that among the Italian diabetic patients treated by dialysis and transplantation insulin-dependent diabetes is uncommon. This finding could be explained by the low incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes in Italy.