AEMCA Practice Exam

What metabolic state occurs due to the breakdown of fatty acids in DKA?

1. Metabolic alkalosis.

2. Metabolic acidosis.

3. Respiratory acidosis.

4. None of the above.

The correct answer is: Metabolic acidosis.

The metabolic state that occurs due to the breakdown of fatty acids in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is metabolic acidosis. In DKA, insufficient insulin levels lead to the body utilizing fatty acids for energy through a process called beta-oxidation. This process leads to the production of ketone bodies, which include acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate. As ketone bodies accumulate in the bloodstream, they increase the acidity of the blood, leading to metabolic acidosis. The respiratory compensation often seen in this condition is increasing the rate of breathing to expel carbon dioxide, which can mitigate some effects of acidosis, but the primary disturbance remains the production of acidic ketone bodies. The marked increase in acidity in DKA is what distinguishes it from other metabolic states such as metabolic alkalosis, which involves a decrease in acidity and an increase in bicarbonate levels.