What is a symptom of DKA that involves respiration?

Kussmaul's respirations are a significant symptom associated with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). These are characterized by deep, labored breathing, often reflecting the body's response to metabolic acidosis, which is a hallmark of DKA. The body attempts to compensate for the acidosis by increasing ventilation to expel carbon dioxide, thereby raising pH levels back towards normal.

In DKA, as ketone bodies accumulate in the bloodstream due to insufficient insulin, the resulting acidosis stimulates the respiratory center in the brain, causing the characteristic rapid and deep breathing pattern known as Kussmaul's respirations. This response is essential as it helps to buffer the acidosis.

Understanding this symptom can help healthcare providers quickly recognize the severity of DKA, allowing for timely and appropriate interventions. Other respiratory symptoms, such as shallow breathing, yawning and sighing, or long pauses between breaths, do not reflect the compensatory mechanisms specific to DKA.