In diabetic ketoacidosis, respirations are typically described as:

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Multiple Choice

In diabetic ketoacidosis, respirations are typically described as:

Explanation:
Metabolic acidosis from diabetic ketoacidosis triggers a breathing pattern known as Kussmaul respiration: the body increases ventilation to blow off CO2, producing deep and rapid respirations. This deep, rapid breathing is the hallmark of the compensatory response to acidosis, helping to raise pH toward normal by reducing hydrogen ion concentration. That’s why the description “deep and rapid” is the best fit. A rapid but shallow pattern wouldn’t remove enough CO2 to compensate, slow and shallow wouldn’t correct the acidosis, and normal and shallow would indicate no compensation at all.

Metabolic acidosis from diabetic ketoacidosis triggers a breathing pattern known as Kussmaul respiration: the body increases ventilation to blow off CO2, producing deep and rapid respirations. This deep, rapid breathing is the hallmark of the compensatory response to acidosis, helping to raise pH toward normal by reducing hydrogen ion concentration.

That’s why the description “deep and rapid” is the best fit. A rapid but shallow pattern wouldn’t remove enough CO2 to compensate, slow and shallow wouldn’t correct the acidosis, and normal and shallow would indicate no compensation at all.

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