Final answer:
Diabetic ketoacidosis leads to a reduction in serum potassium levels due to the movement of potassium into cells along with glucose during insulin treatment. Elevated potassium levels, or hyperkalemia, can seriously affect muscles, nerves, and heart function. Normal potassium levels are regulated by dietary intake, hormonal control, and kidney function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) affects serum potassium levels by causing a relative reduction due to a redistribution process. When insulin therapy is applied, blood glucose is taken up into the cells, and potassium follows. This leads to a decrease in the amount of potassium in the blood and intracellular fluid (IF), which can hyperpolarize neurons, making them less responsive to stimuli. In conditions such as hyperkalemia, where there is an elevated potassium blood level, the function of skeletal muscles, the nervous system, and especially the heart can be impaired. Potassium affects the electrical activity of the heart, and excessive levels can be life-threatening. Normal serum potassium levels are maintained through various homeostatic mechanisms which include dietary potassium intake, renal excretion, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and the action of insulin and other hormones. Proper balance is crucial for physiological functions and avoiding complications like DKA.