Metabolic acidosis is a pH imbalance that occurs when the body has accumulated too much acid and does not have enough bicarbonate (an acid neutralizer) to effectively neutralize the acid's effects. This disruption of the body's acid/base balance can be a mild symptom brought on by a lack of insulin (an antidiabetic drug), a starvation diet, or a gastrointestinal disorder like vomiting and diarrhea. Metabolic acidosis can indicate a more serious problem with a major organ like the liver, heart, or kidneys. It can also be one of the first signs of drug overdose or poisoning.

Metabolic acidosis occurs when the body has more acid than base in it. Chemists use the term "pH" to describe how acidic or basic a substance is. Based on a scale of 14, a pH of 7.0 is neutral. A pH below 7.0 is an acid; the lower the number, the stronger...