The study population consisted of 594 consecutive unrelated Chinese inpatients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Demographic and clinical characteristics (age, gender, family history of diabetes, body mass index, blood pressure and plasma lipid parameters) were recorded. The patients were divided into ketosis-resistant diabetes (KRD), DKWA and DKA groups on the basis of urinary ketones, blood pH and bicarbonate levels. The blood glucose and c-peptide levels of the patients were also evaluated.