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The release of fatty acids and glycerol from adipose tissue of obese diabetics and obese controls has been studied in relation to the fall in plasma fatty acids during a glucose tolerance test. Adipose tissue was taken at zero-time and lh after an oral glucose load (50g). Obese diabetics released more fatty acids from adipose tissue than obese controls ( p < 0.001), whereas glycerol release was similar in the two groups. The percent reduction in release of fatty acids from adipose tissue of obese diabetics during a G. T. T. was significantly less than obese controls (p < 0.02), as was the percent fall in plasma fatty acids (p < 0.02), whereas the percent reduction in glycerol release from adipose tissue was similar in the two groups. In addition the percent fall in plasma fatty acids during a G.T.T. correlated with the percent reduction in release of fatty acids from adipose tissue (p<0.05), but not with release of glycerol; and the increment in plasma insulin from zero-time to lh during a G.T.T. correlated with the percent reduction in fatty acid release from adipose tissue (p<0.01). Finally, the plasma insulin at lh of a G.T.T. correlated inversely with the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue (p<0.05), but not with the release of glycerol. The data is consistent with the view that the plasma fatty acids fall during a G.T.T. due to re-esterification of fatty acids rather than due to an antilipolytic action of insulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]