A 48-year-old man attended an outpatient clinic with known type 2 diabetes, with evidence of both micro- and macro-vascular diabetes-related complications. He was poorly controlled despite a drug regimen consisting of oral metformin and twice daily insulin. He went to India for a year and on returning to the clinic had excellent glycaemic control off all diabetic medication. While away, he had started himself on a regimen of three different ‘herbal’ balls. Chlorpropamide was also found in his blood and in one of the balls. He was told about the risks associated with chlorpropamide and his treatment reverted to a more conventional regimen.