Introduction: Diabetes is an increasing problem in Ethiopia, affecting up to 6.5% of Ethiopianrnadults. There are serious complications associated with diabetes, particularly macrovascular andrnmicrovascular complications. Controlling blood glucose significantly reduces the risk ofrncomplications of diabetes. Insulin therapy is the only current treatment for type 1 diabetes. Type 2rndiabetes can be treated with insulin as well numerous oral and injectable medications. However,rncurrent diabetes treatment has disadvantages, such as drug-related hypoglycemia and high cost.rnTraditional medicine is used to treat diabetes across the world and is readily available andrninexpensive. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is widely consumed as a spice, and numerous studiesrnsuggest that ginger may have beneficial effects for diabetes and dyslipidemia. However, furtherrnstudies are needed to evaluate these effects of ginger.rnObjectives: To evaluate the effects of homogenized ginger rhizome, and a steam distillate ofrnginger rhizome containing 25% gingerol, on blood glucose and fasting lipid profiles ofrnstreptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and to compare these effects with those of simvastatin.rnMethods: Balb/c mice were randomly assigned to receive ginger rhizome homogenate, steamrndistillate of ginger rhizome or simvastatin treatment. Two doses of streptozotocin (33mgâ€™kg) wererngiven intraperitoneally a week apart to induce diabetes. Mice were treated with 2g/kg/day of gingerrnrhizome homogenate by oral gavage, or about 3 mL/kg/day of steam distillate of ginger rhizomernby oral gavage, or 40mg/kg/day simvastatin intraperitoneally. Body weights, blood glucose andrnlipid profiles were measured.rnResults: Oral gavage with ginger rhizome homogenate caused significant blood glucose increases,rnwhereas a steam distillate of ginger rhizome showed significant blood glucose lowering effects, inrnSTZ-induced diabetic mice. Diabetic mice treated with ginger rhizome homogenate for 56 daysrnshowed significantly lowered serum LDL and triglyceride, and higher HDL levels compared withrnnon-treated diabetic mice but had no significant effect on total cholesterol. The steam distillate ofrnginger rhizome, given by oral gavage, lowered LDL but had no significant effect on HDL, totalrncholesterol or triglyceride levels of STZ-diabetic mice. Simvastatin (40mg/kg) givenrnintraperitoneally decreased blood glucose, decreased LDL and increased HDL, but had nornsignificant effect on triglycerides and total cholesterol in STZ-diabetic mice. None of theserntreatments, ginger rhizome homogenate, steam distillate, or simvastatin, had a major effect onrnweights of diabetic mice.rnConclusions: Ginger rhizome homogenate treatment exacerbated hyperglycemia in STZ-diabeticrnmice, but improved diabetic dyslipidemia, while a steam distillate of ginger rhizome andrnsimvastatin each decreased fasting blood glucose and improved lipid profiles of STZ-inducedrndiabetic mice.