Which of the following is common in patients experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?

In patients experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), increased ketosis is indeed a hallmark of the condition. DKA is characterized by a significant accumulation of ketone bodies in the bloodstream, which occurs when there is insufficient insulin to promote glucose absorption by the cells. As a result, the body begins to utilize fat as an alternative energy source, leading to the breakdown of fatty acids and the subsequent production of ketones. This elevated level of ketones not only contributes to metabolic acidosis but also manifests clinically as symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and increased respiratory rate (Kussmaul breathing) as the body attempts to compensate for acidemia.

While hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, and changes in body temperature can occur in DKA, they are not as definitive or pivotal to the pathophysiology of DKA as the presence of increased ketosis. Hyperkalemia can occur due to the shift of potassium from the intracellular to the extracellular space in the context of acidosis, while hyponatremia can occur from fluid shifts and osmotic diuresis. Hypothermia is not typically associated with DKA; rather, patients usually present with normothermia or even hyperthermia in certain cases of infection