What electrolyte imbalance is likely causing tingling, numbness, and a U wave on the cardiac monitor in a client with diabetic ketoacidosis?

The presence of tingling, numbness, and a U wave on the cardiac monitor suggests a likely case of hypokalemia. In diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), patients can experience a significant shift of potassium out of cells as they undergo metabolic derangements. However, due to ongoing losses from vomiting, polyuria, and also the use of insulin, which facilitates potassium entry into cells, the serum potassium levels can drop.

The U wave is a specific electrocardiographic finding associated with hypokalemia. It typically appears after the T wave and is a sign of repolarization abnormality due to low potassium levels. Other symptoms of hypokalemia can include muscle weakness, cramps, and in severe cases, cardiac arrhythmias, which further underscores the importance of monitoring potassium levels in patients with DKA.

Addressing the other choices, hyponatremia typically does not present with the specific cardiac monitoring findings described or the associated neurological symptoms. Hyperglycemia is a hallmark of DKA but does not directly correlate with the symptoms mentioned in the question. Hypercalcemia could cause various neurological symptoms and skeletal issues, but it is not characteristically linked to the U wave and DKA context provided. Therefore, the most fitting explanation for