Registered Dietitian Exam Prep

Answer: D - Levels of the counter-regulatory hormones glucagon and epinephrine are elevated in diabetic ketoacidosis and contribute to hyperglycemia. Loss of bicarbonate buffer leads to disruptions in the body’s acid-base balance. Incomplete oxidation of fatty acids leads to the formation of ketone bodies. The elevated osmotic load cause by hyperglycemia leads to increased diuresis and eventual dehydration.