Question

Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when:

1) blood glucose levels rapidly fall.
2) the cells rapidly metabolize glucose.
3) the pancreas produces excess insulin.
4) insulin is not available in the body.

Answer 1

Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when insulin is unavailable in the body, leading to the breakdown of fatty acids for energy and an increase in ketone bodies, which acidifies the blood.

Step-by-step explanation:

Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when: insulin is not available in the body. This happens most frequently in people with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. When cells do not receive adequate amounts of glucose due to a lack of insulin, they must rely on the breakdown of fatty acids for energy. This leads to the production of ketone bodies, such as acetoacetic acid, beta-hydroxybutyric acid, and acetone, which increase the acid content in the blood and result in ketoacidosis. Missing a dose of insulin can initiate ketoacidosis in diabetics who are insulin-dependent.