Which condition is a medical emergency commonly associated with diabetic ketoacidosis?

• A. Lactic acidosis
• B. Peripheral neuropathy
• C. Diabetic ketoacidosis
• D. Hypoglycemia

Answer: (C)

Diabetic ketoacidosis is an acute metabolic crisis that requires urgent medical care. The scenario is pointing to the emergency state most closely linked with this condition, which is the crisis itself: diabetic ketoacidosis. Lactic acidosis is another serious condition but not the typical emergency that defines DKA, and peripheral neuropathy is a chronic complication rather than an immediate emergency. Hypoglycemia can be a danger during treatment, but it is not the crisis that characterizes diabetic ketoacidosis. Recognizing that the emergency you must treat in the context of DKA is the DKA state itself explains why this choice is the best.