Which clients are at highest risk for metabolic acidosis? A nurse is monitoring a group of clients for acid-base imbalances.

When a nurse is monitoring a group of clients for acid-base imbalances, the patients at the highest risk for metabolic acidosis are the following: diabetic mellitus client, malnourished client, and renal failure client.

These three health problems can all lead to metabolic acidosis because of the increasing acids in the body due to the insulin imbalance, lack of nutrition available to the body, or weak kidney state.

Options 1, 2, and 5 are respiratory problems, not metabolic, and therefore are more likely to result in either respiratory acidosis or respiratory alkalosis manifested in part of the respiratory system such as the lungs.