Patients with diabetes mellitus who neglect insulin therapy rapidly metabolize lipids, and there may be an accumulation of the acidic by-products of lipid metabolism in the blood. What effect would this have on respiration? A. increase in respiratory rate B. decrease in respiratory rate C. decrease in respiratory rate if oxygen is reduced D. no infl uence on respiratory rat
Option A. Respiratory rate will increase if blood pH decreases so as to breathe out carbon dioxide (and therefore lesser acid). In uncontrolled diabetics that is acknowledged a Kussmaul breathing.
