Which of the following changes, compared with normal, would you expect to find in a patient with metabolic acidosis caused by uncontrolled diabetes mellitus? A. Increased new renal production of HCO3 B. Increased urine pH C. Decreased excretion of NH4+ D. Decreased plasma anion gap

Which of the following changes, compared with normal, would you expect to find in a patient with metabolic acidosis caused by uncontrolled diabetes mellitus?
A. Increased new renal production of HCO3
B. Increased urine pH
C. Decreased excretion of NH4+
D. Decreased plasma anion gap

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Answer

• Increased new renal production of HCO3
  Explanation:
  Ketoacids produced when the body breaks down fat to produce energy (due to lack of insulin in type I diabetes), causes an excess production of hydrogen ions which bind bicarbonates resulting to decreased serum bicarbonate levels. To main the acid-base balance, the kidney must generate new bicarbonate to replace the bicarbonate lost in the serum. Thus, we expect an increased production of new bicarbonate ions in the kidney