Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

What respiratory pattern is associated with diabetic ketoacidosis?

1. Slow, shallow breathing

2. Rapid, shallow breathing

3. Kussmaul's respirations

4. Periodic breathing

The correct answer is: Kussmaul's respirations

Kussmaul's respirations are a specific type of deep and labored breathing pattern that is typically observed in patients experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This breathing pattern is the body's physiological response to metabolic acidosis—commonly associated with DKA—where the body attempts to compensate for the buildup of acids due to insufficient insulin and resulting high blood glucose levels. In this context, Kussmaul's respirations facilitate increased ventilation to expel carbon dioxide and help to restore the body's acid-base balance. This compensatory mechanism can be thought of as the body trying to 'blow off' excess acid, reflecting the body's struggle to manage an underlying metabolic derangement. The characteristics of Kussmaul's respirations include an increased rate and depth of breathing, which distinguishes them from other respiratory patterns that might be observed in different conditions.