In 38 diabetic patients, admitted on a long-term basis to a nursing home, the clinical situation and presence of secondary diabetic complications were assessed, and their macrovascular complications and degree of glycemic control compared with those in ambulatory diabetic patients, matched for age, sex, known duration of diabetes and specific antidiabetic therapy. No differences in blood glucose control, plasma triglycerides, blood pressure and serum creatinine were observed between both groups of patients. Plasma cholesterol levels were higher in the ambulatory patients (6.4 +/- 1.0 vs 5.6 +/- 1.1 mmol/l, P = 0.008). Twenty-two nursing home patients had suffered from stroke, against 4 ambulatory patients. Hypertension was found in almost 50% of all patients, whereas its prevalence was highest in the stroke patients (69 vs 36%, P less than 0.01). In the nursing home patients, peripheral vascular abnormalities, skin necrosis or leg ulcers and recurrent urinary tract infections were frequently encountered, whereas in the ambulatory patients cardiac complaints were more prevalent. Use of medication, especially diuretics and anticoagulant agents, was higher in the nursing home patients. Diabetes and the sequelae of its macrovascular complications may greatly impair the quality of life of the diabetic patient, and place a large financial and personal burden on the health care in general. Better identification of diabetic patients with a high risk of stroke is necessary.