A nurse is caring for a client who has chronic diarrhea. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. Hypokalemia: Chronic diarrhea causes excessive loss of potassium through the gastrointestinal tract, leading to low serum potassium levels. Signs can include muscle weakness, fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmias. Monitoring electrolytes and providing potassium replacement as needed are critical in these clients. B. Respiratory acidosis: Diarrhea primarily causes metabolic disturbances, not respiratory. Respiratory acidosis results from hypoventilation or impaired gas exchange, which is unrelated to gastrointestinal fluid loss. C. Hypertension: Chronic diarrhea typically leads to fluid and electrolyte depletion, which can lower blood pressure rather than elevate it. Hypertension is not an expected finding in this context. D. Hypermagnesemia: Diarrhea usually results in magnesium loss, not accumulation. Hypermagnesemia is more commonly associated with renal insufficiency or excessive magnesium intake, not chronic GI losses.