Method of treating diabetes mellitus using KGF

A method of treating diabetes mellitus, comprising administering to a mammal having that condition an amount effective for reducing blood glucose levels compared to an untreated individual of a keratinocyte growth factor having amino acid residues 32-194 of SEQ ID NO:2 (native KGF) or an analog thereof which comprises a difference from the sequence of native KGF by having an amino acid deletion of or having a residue other than cysteine substituted for Cys.sup.32 and Cys.sup.46 of SEQ ID-NO:2, wherein said keratinocyte growth factor exhibits at least 500-fold greater stimulation of BALB/MK keratinocyte cells than that of NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells and at least about 500-fold greater stimulation of BALB/MK keratinocyte cells than for BS/589 epithelial cells or for CC1208 epithelial cells, as determined by H-thymidine incorporation.