Final answer:
The level that increases in diabetes mellitus, contributing to ketoacidosis, is B) Ketones. Ketones are byproducts of the body's fat metabolism when insufficient insulin prevents glucose utilization, leading to their measurement in blood and urine during diabetic ketoacidosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The level that increases in diabetes mellitus and is a major component of ketoacidosis is B) Ketones. In conditions like diabetes mellitus, pregnancy toxemia, extreme starvation, and acetonemia, the body begins to break down fatty acids for energy, leading to an overproduction of ketone bodies such as acetoacetic acid, β-hydroxybutyric acid, and acetone.
During diabetic ketoacidosis, there is a high concentration of ketone bodies in the blood (ketonemia) due to their overproduction by the liver and reduced consumption by the peripheral tissues. This is commonly due to insufficient insulin or improper insulin function, which results in cells utilizing fats instead of glucose for energy, thus generating an excess of ketone bodies. These ketone bodies can be detected in blood and urine, indicating ketonemia and ketonuria, respectively. Excess ketones in the urine is a sign that the body is using fat for energy instead of glucose due to insulin insufficiency or resistance.