Final answer:
A person with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus will develop metabolic acidosis due to the buildup of acidic ketone bodies when the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose.
Step-by-step explanation:
A person with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus will develop c. metabolic acidosis. This condition is characterized by a high concentration of ketone bodies in the blood, which are acidic compounds produced when glucose is not available and the body resorts to burning fatty acids for energy. Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis can include deep, rapid breathing, dry skin and mouth, flushed face, nausea, vomiting, and a fruity odor on the breath. Missed insulin doses or ineffective insulin therapy often trigger this metabolic acidosis, particularly in individuals with type 1 diabetes, but it can also occur in type 2 diabetes under certain circumstances.
The term ketoacidosis refers to a buildup of ketones in the body, which are formed when the liver breaks down fats for energy. This process occurs due to the lack of sufficient insulin in individuals with diabetes, leading to an inability of cells to uptake glucose properly. As a result, the body starts utilizing fats, producing an overabundance of ketones, which are acidic, and this can lower the pH of blood plasma, causing metabolic acidosis.