A nurse is caring for a client who has diabetic ketoacidosis. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect?

A. A blood glucose level of 230 mg/dL is elevated but not high enough to indicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which typically involves glucose levels >300 mg/dL. B. A pH of 7.5 indicates alkalosis, whereas DKA causes metabolic acidosis, leading to a low pH (<7.35). C. A serum bicarbonate level of 9 mEq/L is significantly decreased and is a hallmark of metabolic acidosis, which is a defining characteristic of DKA. D. A partial pressure of CO₂ (PaCO₂) of 50 mm Hg is elevated and indicates respiratory acidosis. In DKA, PaCO₂ is typically low due to Kussmaul respirations, which are deep and rapid to compensate for metabolic acidosis.