BackgroundDiabetic ketoacidosis is an acute life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus. There was limited data on level of in-hospital mortality, hospital stay and factors associated with length of hospital stay among diabetic patients admitted to diabetic ketoacidosis at Debretabor General Hospital.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to determine the length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality of diabetic ketoacidosis patients and to assess determinants of long hospital stay among diabetic patients admitted with Diabetic ketoacidosis at Debretabor General Hospital.MethodA retrospective study was conducted at Debretabor General Hospital from June 1to 30, 2018. Participants included in the study were all diabetic patients with diabetic ketoacidosis admitted to the hospital from August 2010 to May 31, 2018 whose medical records contained complete pertinent data. The primary outcome was to determine the length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality of diabetic ketoacidosis patients. All the statistical data was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics was presented using means with standard deviation and percentages.ResultA total of 387 patients’ medical records contained pertinent complete information included in this study. Mean age of the patients was 33.30± 14.96 years. The majority of patients were females 244 (63.0%). The mean length of hospital stay was 4.64(±2.802) days. About twenty percent 79(20.41%) patients had long hospital stay (>7days). The majority 370 (95.60%) of patients improved and discharged and 17 (4.40%) patients died in the hospital. patients who had mild DKA; AOR: 0.16 [0.03-0.78] and patients between the age of 35-44years, AOR: 0.125[0.017-0.92] had reduced length of hospital stay. further, patients with DKA precipitated by infection were 4.59 times more likely to have long hospital stay than patients with DKA precipitated by unknown causes; AOR 4.59[1.08-19.42].ConclusionsIn the current study, the mean length of hospital stay was around five days. About twenty percent patients had long hospital stay. Nearly ninety five percent of patientsimproved and discharged. The presence of infection, frequent rebound hyperglycemia and severity of DKA were the major determinants of long hospital stay.