The Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) rat is a novel model for nonobese type 2 diabetes. In this study we investigated the glycolipid metabolic changes with phlorizin-treatment, which inhibits intestinal glucose uptake and renal glucose reabsorption, in male SDT rats. Phlorizin (100 mg/kg, b.i.d., s.c.) was administered for 4 weeks to SDT rats from 20 to 24 weeks of age. As a result, phlorizin reduced the development of hyperglycemia and decreased the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. In the liver, phlorizin increased mRNA levels of glucokinase, the enzymes related with the glycogen cascade and the proteins associated with lipid metabolism. In conclusion, chronic administration of phlorizin in SDT rats produced a good glycemic control and an improvement in liver function.