Question

What would happen to the pH of the blood if excessive amounts of acetoacetic acid built up, as in a case of untreated diabetes.

Answer 1

Answer and explanation:

If excessive amounts of acetoacetic acid were to build up in the body, the pH of the blood would decrease, because the blood would become more acidic.

Acetoacetic acid is produced because of lipolysis (fat degradation) or because of the breakdown of amino acids. This is a normal biochemical process, but it can lead to serious issues when the levels of acetoacetic acid rise more than they should.

Patients with Diabetes Mellitus have a deficiency in their insulin production. Insulin is the only hormone that can make glucose enter the cells, which is important because glucose (sugar) is processed inside the cells to produce ATP (a molecule high in energy).

Patients with Diabetes can't get the glucose inside their cells, so the blood sugar levels rise in the blood (hyperglycemia). Since the body still needs ATP to function properly, energy requirements are being met via the degradation of fat and amino acids - which generates acetoacetic acid. If this continues, the pH drops and Diabetic Ketoacidosis occurs. This condition is life-threatening.