An Emergency Department Physician Tells You That the Hyperglycemic Diabetic

Multiple Choice

An emergency department physician tells you that the hyperglycemic diabetic you brought in earlier has a pH of 7.40. What is the likeliest explanation of this statement?

A) The patient is a type II diabetic who was no longer secreting enough insulin to prevent the use of fats for energy.
B) The patient is a type II diabetic who was secreting enough insulin to prevent the use of fats for energy.
C) The patient is a type I diabetic who did not take his insulin and is therefore unable to use glucose for energy.
D) The patient is a type I diabetic who took his insulin and did not eat, resulting in the breakdown of proteins for energy.