Question

Diabetes mellitus produces many homeostatic imbalances, including acidosis. The pH imbalance is due to ketoacidosis, which results from excessive accumulation of by-products of fat metabolism, as the body cannot meet energy needs from carbohydrate metabolism. Maria is a teenaged diabetic who sometimes rebels by not taking her insulin. Her mother takes her to the hospital because her breathing has become deep and gasping.

Explain Maria's breathing pattern.

Which other compensatory responses may occur, and would they occur earlier or later than the respiratory response?

Answer 1

Maria’s respiratory system’s response is due to her ketoacidosis. When hyperventilation occurs she removes more portion of Carbon dioxide from her blood. This results in Carbonic acid equation being shifted to the right thereby eliminating free Hydrogen ions and increasing the pH.

The change in pH immediately leads to a gradual process of chemical buffering of the blood. The kidneys buffer more slowly in order to make them more effective later.