Final answer:
In diabetic ketoacidosis, the likely lab value is a pH of 7.24, indicative of an acidic state due to the production of ketone bodies and a higher than normal blood glucose level.
Step-by-step explanation:
The laboratory value that would be more common in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis is a pH of 7.24. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs most frequently in individuals with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, leading to the overproduction of ketone bodies due to the breakdown of fatty acids for energy when glucose utilization is impaired. As a result, the typical blood pH which normally ranges from 7.35 to 7.45, is decreased. This lower pH level indicates a state of acidosis, and a value of 7.24 falls within the acidic range observed in DKA patients.
In DKA, one would also expect a blood glucose level significantly higher than normal, often exceeding 250 mg/dL, and the presence of ketones in the urine due to ketonuria. The normal anion gap is disrupted as well, widening due to the accumulation of acids in the blood. These changes are associated with hyperglycemia, and the presence of Acetoacetic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, and acetone, which are the ketone bodies contributing to the acidic environment.