Antidiabetic activities of white ginseng 50％ ethanol extract (WGE) and IH901, an intestinal metabolite of ginsenoside R $b_1$, were compared in multiple low dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. WGE or IH901 were coadministered with STZ on Day 1 at dose of 100 and 300 mg or 10 and 30 mg, respectively, and continually administered for 16 days. STZ dissolved in citrate boner was injected intraperitoneally at dose of 20 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days. During the experiment, plasma glucose level and body weight were measured every 4$^{th}$ day. Amount of food and water intake were evaluated once a week and compared between groups. WGE and IH901 both significantly reduced the plasma glucose levels on Day 16 as compared with those of the diabetic control group. In the meantime, amount of food and water intake in WGE-and IH901-treated groups were significantly improved in a dose dependent fashion as compared with those of the diabetic control group. Taken together WGE and IH901 showed the comparable antidiabetic activities at the corresponding doses used in this experiment.