A nurse is collecting data from a client who has diabetic ketoacidosis. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Choice A Reason: Clammy skin is incorrect. DKA is more likely to cause dry or flushed skin due to dehydration and the effects of high blood sugar levels. Clammy skin is usually associated with conditions that cause excessive sweating. Choice B Reason: Bounding pulse is incorrect. DKA can lead to tachycardia (a rapid heart rate) as the body tries to compensate for the metabolic imbalances, but a bounding pulse is not a characteristic finding of DKA. Choice C Reason: Elevated blood pressure is incorrect. DKA is more likely to result in an initial decrease in blood pressure due to dehydration. Elevated blood pressure may be present in other conditions but is not a primary feature of DKA. Choice D Reason: Fruity breath odor is correct. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of diabetes characterized by a buildup of ketones in the blood, which results from the body breaking down fat for energy due to a lack of insulin. Fruity breath odor, often described as smelling like acetone or nail polish remover, is a classic sign of DKA. It occurs because the presence of ketones in the blood leads to the exhalation of acetone through the breath.