Diabetic emergency characterized by high blood sugar and ketosis described as diabetic ketoacidosis is which option?

• A. Hypoglycemic crisis
• B. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
• C. Diabetic ketoacidosis
• D. Lactic acidosis

Answer: (C)

Diabetic ketoacidosis is characterized by high blood sugar with the presence of ketones in the blood. This happens when there isn’t enough insulin, so glucose can’t enter cells and the body starts breaking down fat for fuel, producing ketone bodies. Those ketones cause metabolic acidosis, and the combination of hyperglycemia, ketosis, and acidosis defines this emergency. In contrast, a hypoglycemic crisis involves too little glucose, a hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state features very high glucose with dehydration but little ketosis, and lactic acidosis is due to elevated lactate rather than ketosis with hyperglycemia.