The client is a 29-year-old with a history of type 1 diabetes from the age of 6. She controls her blood glucose with an insulin pump and uses a continuous glucose monitor. The client was out of town, and her insulin pump was damaged. She had forgotten her back-up long-acting insulin at home, so she took the 6-hour drive home. By the time she arrived at home, she was having nausea and vomiting. Her blood glucose meter read over 500 mg/dL (27.8 mmol/L). She took a dose of insulin glargine and took herself to the emergency room. The nurse is drawing an arterial blood gas to evaluate the client post treatment. Complete the following sentence by choosing from the lists of options. A pH level of dropdown and HCO3- level of dropdown indicate a resolution of ketoacidosis.

Choice A rationale: A pH level of 7.35 to 7.45 and HCO3- level of 22 to 26 mEq/L indicate a resolution of ketoacidosis. The normal pH range for the body is 7.35 to 7.45, and a return to this range indicates that the body’s acid-base balance has been restored. The bicarbonate (HCO3-) level is a measure of the metabolic component of the body’s acid-base balance, and the normal range is 22 to 26 mEq/L. A return to this range indicates that the metabolic acidosis caused by the ketoacidosis has been resolved. Choice B rationale: A pH level of 7.25 to 7.35 and HCO3- level of 18 to 22 mEq/L would indicate that the client is still in a state of mild acidosis, as the pH is below the normal range and the bicarbonate level is also slightly low, indicating a metabolic acidosis. Choice C rationale: A pH level of 7.15 to 7.25 and HCO3- level of 14 to 18 mEq/L would indicate a moderate acidosis. Both the pH and bicarbonate levels are significantly below their normal ranges, indicating a significant disruption in the body’s acid-base balance. Choice D rationale: A pH level of 7.05 to 7.15 and HCO3- level of 10 to 14 mEq/L would indicate severe acidosis, which would be life-threatening if not corrected. Both the pH and bicarbonate levels are far below their normal ranges, indicating a severe disruption in the body’s acid-base balance. In conclusion, choice A is correct because it represents values within the normal ranges for both pH and bicarbonate, indicating a resolution of ketoacidosis.