Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) results in:

• A. Storage of glycogen, resulting in a severe shortage of glucose in the bloodstream.
• B. Dangerously elevated pH and bicarbonate levels in the blood.
• C. Inability of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to be metabolized.
• D. Severe hypoglycemia, which can result in coma and convulsions.

Answer: (C)

Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when there isn’t enough insulin, so glucose can’t enter most cells. The body interprets this as a cellular energy deficit and shifts to breaking down fats and proteins for energy. This increased lipolysis produces ketone bodies, leading to metabolic acidosis. In this state, the body isn’t able to metabolize carbohydrates effectively (glucose can’t be used by cells) and there’s a rise in fat and protein breakdown to supply energy, which is why the statement about inability to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins best captures what happens in DKA.

The other descriptions don’t fit: glycogen storage with a severe glucose shortage would not produce the observed hyperglycemia; elevated pH and bicarbonate would imply alkalosis, whereas DKA causes metabolic acidosis with low pH and low bicarbonate; and severe hypoglycemia is not characteristic of DKA, which features high blood glucose.