Diabetes mellitus: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Medicine · Diabetes mellitus

Sample item

Which biochemical feature most strongly supports diabetic ketoacidosis rather than uncomplicated hyperglycaemia?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Raised blood ketones with metabolic acidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis is defined by hyperglycaemia with significant ketonaemia and metabolic acidosis, reflecting insulin deficiency and uncontrolled lipolysis rather than glucose elevation alone.

Option by option

  • A. Isolated high LDL cholesterol

    LDL cholesterol does not diagnose an acute ketotic emergency.

  • B. Elevated bilirubin alone

    Bilirubin elevation points toward hepatobiliary processes, not DKA.

  • C. Low serum amylase alone

    Amylase alone cannot establish diabetic ketoacidosis.

  • D. Raised blood ketones with metabolic acidosis (correct)

    Correct: ketonaemia with acidosis is the defining metabolic pattern.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Raised blood ketones with metabolic acidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is defined by hyperglycaemia with significant ketonaemia and metabolic acidosis, reflecting insulin deficiency and uncontrolled lipolysis rather than glucose elevation alone.

Why is "Isolated high LDL cholesterol" not the answer?

LDL cholesterol does not diagnose an acute ketotic emergency.

Why is "Elevated bilirubin alone" not the answer?

Bilirubin elevation points toward hepatobiliary processes, not DKA.

Why is "Low serum amylase alone" not the answer?

Amylase alone cannot establish diabetic ketoacidosis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Diabetes mellitus in General Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: ketonaemia with acidosis is the defining metabolic pattern.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Diabetes mellitus?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.