Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is chronic non communicable disease (NCD) that becomes one of the most common challenging and rapidly increasing public health problems in the 21st century globally.More than 80% of people with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries.DM also often coexists with obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and other complications. Since detection and treatment of dyslipidemia and obesity is one means of reducing risk of CVD, determination of serum lipid profile and body fat levels in people with diabetic should be considered as standard care.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the associated factors of serum lipid profile and body fat distribution among diabetic patients attaining their treatment in selected hospitals, Harar town,Harari Region, Eastern Ethiopia.

Method:A cross sectional facility based study was conducted among 335 diabetic patients from 1 May to 30 June 2015.Data was described and summarized using tables and graphs. It was edited, cleaned, coded and entered using EPI-Info. SPSS 17.0 for windows was used for statistical analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis with 95% confidence interval were employed in order to infer associations and predictions.

Results: More than half (54.3%) of study participants were female. The median age was 55 years (IQR: 45, 63). Only 44 (13.1%) were identified as no lipid profile abnormalities. Two hundred ninety one (86.9%) and 207 (61.8%) had dyslipidemia (the presence of at least one of abnormal values of the lipid profiles) and poor glycemic control (FBS ≥ 145gm/dl), respectively. Of the total of female participants, 120 (65%) and 164 (90.1%) had poor glycemic control and dyslipidemia, respectively. Whereas 87 (56.9%) and 127 (83%) male participants had poor glycemic control and dyslipidemia, respectively.Higher mean value of TC (197.0 gm/dl) and LDL-C (129.1 gm/dl) were found among female participants. Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) also found to be higher among female (186+5.7SEM) than male participants (184 gm/dl +9.6 SEM). In the multivariate analysis, being female (AOR=2.55, 95%CI: 1.16, 5.59), type 2 DM (AOR=4.13, 95%CI: 1.52, 11.26), duration of DM (>7years) (AOR=3.18, 95%CI: 1.37, 7.37), having systolic blood pressure of >90mmHg (AOR=4.74, 95%CI: 1.34, 16.75), and absence of daily exercise (AOR=2.90, 95%CI: 1.38, 6.12) remained as independent predictors of dyslipidemia among diabetic patients.

Recommendations: Both lipid profile and body fat have been shown to be the important predictors for metabolic disturbances including dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and CVD. Determining the relation of diabetic with serum lipid profile is critical towards better understanding of the disease process and for early detection and managements of complications associated with these conditions.Special attention should be given to those who are at risk of developing dyslipidemia.Further longitudinal studies with long term follow-up are needed to explore more on the causes of dyslipidemia and the pattern of lipid profile changes with in resource limited settings. Collaborative efforts should be encouraged to strengthen service delivery in all levels to diagnose, treat, and follow-up of diabetic patients.