Final answer:
Kussmaul's Respirations occur in DKA as the body's response to expel excess CO₂ in an effort to balance the blood's pH due to acidosis caused by increased ketone bodies from fat metabolism. DKA can progress to diabetic coma if left untreated, demanding immediate sugar ingestion or insulin administration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Kussmaul's Respirations are seen in Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) due to the body's attempt to compensate for the acidosis caused by an accumulation of ketone bodies. These ketone bodies are generated as a result of a shift towards fat metabolism for energy, due to the lack of insulin or its improper functioning. The fast and deep breathing is an effort to correct the blood's pH by expelling excess carbon dioxide (CO₂).
In DKA, less glucose is utilized by muscles, which triggers the shift towards fat metabolism and increases fatty acid oxidation. This results in higher levels of acetyl-CoA, which, in turn, leads to an overproduction of ketone bodies. These ketone bodies—in particular, acetoacetic acid and beta-hydroxybutyric acid—are weak acids and cause the pH of the blood to drop, leading to ketoacidosis. Diabetic coma can occur if the ketoacidosis is not treated promptly, with treatment involving sugar ingestion or insulin injection.