A 47-year-old patient with Type 1 diabetes presents in coma due to diabetic ketoacidosis and has rapid deep breathing. Which breathing pattern best describes this situation?

• A. Ataxic breathing
• B. Cheyne-Stokes breathing
• C. Kussmaul breathing
• D. Obstructive breathing

Answer: (C)

Metabolic acidosis from diabetic ketoacidosis triggers a compensatory respiratory response. The body tries to blow off excess hydrogen ions by removing CO2, so ventilation increases in both rate and depth. This pattern—rapid, deep, regular breathing—is characteristic of Kussmaul respiration. It’s the classic sign of metabolic acidosis attempting to be corrected by the respiratory system.

Other patterns don’t fit this scenario: ataxic (Biot) breathing is irregular and unpredictable, often with clusters of breaths followed by periods of apnea due to brainstem injury; Cheyne-Stokes shows a cycle of gradually increasing then decreasing tidal volumes followed by pauses (apnea), seen with advanced heart failure or central nervous system issues; obstructive breathing involves prolonged expiration and air trapping, common in airway obstruction or COPD.